Kovo 11 Park in Kaunas: Design Analysis and User Experience Post-Redevelopment

Kovo 11 Park Adaptation for Various Activities

Kovo 11 Park in Kaunas has been redesigned to meet the needs of residents and city visitors, with a focus on providing a comprehensive experience that blends comfort and recreation. The park includes designated areas for relaxation, alongside spaces for active recreational activities suitable for all ages.

Green Spaces and Their Social Role

Green spaces play a pivotal role in enhancing social interaction, providing areas for gathering and enjoying the outdoors. Interactive elements have also been integrated into children’s playgrounds, encouraging movement and learning through play.

Focus on Functionality and Safety

Designers ensured the integration of subtle architectural features and landscaping organization tailored to the local context. Functionality and safety standards were carefully considered to guarantee a comfortable and secure experience for all visitors while promoting community interaction.

Diversity of Activities and Spaces in the Park

The Kovo 11 Park project includes a variety of spaces for recreation, active leisure, and interactive play, in addition to children’s playgrounds and supporting infrastructure. The park has been designed in a practical way that harmoniously connects different activities and spatial zones, contributing to a comprehensive experience for visitors.

Promoting Physical Activity and Social Interaction

Recreational features such as children’s playgrounds, the interactive labyrinth, swings, hanging hammocks, and other interactive areas help stimulate physical activity and outdoor participation. These elements provide children and youth with opportunities to learn through play, while families can enjoy social interaction.

Visual Appeal and Comfort

In addition to recreational activities, pergolas and landscaping play a significant role in enhancing the park’s visual appeal and providing comfortable areas for relaxation. This arrangement balances practical and aesthetic functions, ensuring an enjoyable and comfortable experience for all visitors.

Geographical Location and Urban Context

Kovo 11 Park is located in the Griciupis neighborhood of Kaunas, on the right bank of the Nemunas River. The park is bordered to the south by Dujotiekio Street and to the east by Kovo 11 Street, while Salu Streets form the northern and western boundaries, in an area with high building density.

Surrounding Urban Diversity

The buildings surrounding the park vary notably:

• To the east: Low-rise buildings ranging from two to four stories, including the Girstupis Market and Griciupis Swimming Pool.
• To the west: High-rise residential buildings up to 12 stories.
• To the south: Single-family houses ranging from two to three stories.
• To the north: A five-story residential apartment building.

Proximity to Water Bodies

The park benefits from its closeness to multiple water bodies, enhancing its environmental appeal:

• Nemunas River: 1.1 km to the east.
• Griciupis Bay: 0.66 km away.
• Girstupis Bay: 0.4 km southwest.

This context demonstrates that the site combines a diverse urban environment with nearby natural spaces, contributing to a balance between relaxation and social activity within the park.

Accessibility and Surrounding Infrastructure

The design of Kovo 11 Park enhances accessibility through several key elements. Parking spaces are available around the park’s perimeter, facilitating access for visitors arriving by private cars. A bicycle lane along Kovo 11 Street also provides an option for active and sustainable transportation.

Additionally, the existing street network naturally connects the park with surrounding areas, while the public transport station for buses and trams on the eastern edge offers further access options. This makes the park accessible to a diverse range of residents and visitors.

Condition of the Park Before Redevelopment

Before its redesign, Kovo 11 Park faced several limitations that affected the visitor experience, such as:

• Lack of recreational areas and children’s playgrounds.
• Poor lighting and unsuitable path surfaces for walking or physical activity.
• Insufficient greenery maintenance, impacting the overall appearance of natural spaces.
• Limited accessibility for people with disabilities, restricting the park’s inclusivity.
• A shortage of waste bins, affecting overall cleanliness.

These challenges highlight the need for a comprehensive redesign focused on improving functionality, safety, and the overall visitor experience.

The Park After Redevelopment: Renewed Infrastructure and a Comprehensive Experience

Following its redevelopment, Kovo 11 Park now offers renewed infrastructure and enhanced functionality, creating a versatile environment with high visual appeal. The park has been designed to provide smooth access through three main entrances (to the south and two to the east), along with secondary entrances in the north and west, all connected by a network of pathways that facilitate access to children’s playgrounds and recreational areas.

Practical and Aesthetic Enhancements

Benches, waste bins, and information kiosks have been strategically placed to meet visitor needs, while lawns, trees, and shrubs have been restored or planted to enhance the park’s natural and aesthetic character. A new lighting system has also been installed, ensuring safety and improving the experience of moving through the park after sunset, making it an enjoyable and secure destination for all visitors.

Diversity of Children’s and Recreational Areas

The children’s and recreational areas in Kovo 11 Park are characterized by diversity and a carefully planned distribution across different sections of the park, enhancing a comprehensive experience for all ages.

Northern Section

The northern section features a climbing playground and an automated restroom, along with a labyrinth-style play area, creating an environment that encourages movement and exploration.

Central Section

The central section includes a fountain, a relaxation area equipped with a pergola, and educational plantings, combining recreation with learning opportunities.

Southern Section

The southern section offers an interactive play zone featuring swings, hanging hammocks, artificial mounds, and in-ground trampolines, promoting physical activity and social interaction among children.

Western Slope

On the western slope, a climbing wall with a rubber surface has been installed, providing additional physical activities while ensuring safety.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Following its redevelopment, Kovo 11 Park provides a strong example of integrating recreational activities with green spaces. Positive aspects include clearly defined pathways, practical connections between entrances and different areas, and aesthetic enhancements such as landscaping and pergolas. These elements support the visitor experience and create a visually appealing environment.

However, the design primarily emphasizes infrastructure and general activities without delving deeper into innovative architectural features or cultural interaction with the surrounding neighborhood. The urban diversity of the surrounding area makes it challenging for some spaces to establish a cohesive park identity, and achieving high levels of social interaction across all areas may be difficult due to the park’s size and overall layout. Additionally, the project may face long-term maintenance challenges for facilities and greenery if a sustainable monitoring system is not implemented.

Despite these limitations, the current experience serves as a valuable reference for studying the integration of recreational functions with urban planning and experimenting with innovative solutions to improve accessibility and social interaction in future projects. The park also offers insights into balancing visual appeal, safety, and functional performance in the design of public spaces.

Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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