Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia

The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia (GZM) is a voluntary inter-borough association, created in 2007. It comprises 14 member cities called the "Silesia" Metropolis (i.e. Bytom, Chorzów, Dąbrowa Górnicza, Gliwice, Jaworzno, Katowice, Mysłowice, Piekary Śląskie, Ruda Śląska, Siemianowice Śląskie, Sosnowiec, Świętochłowice, Tychy, Zabrze), with the population of ca. 2 million people. One of the most important aspects of GZM activities is a consolidation of the member cites' potential and undertaking joint measures in order to create a vibrant/dynamic metropolitan centre on a national and European scale.

In spite of highly urbanized character of "Silesia" Metropolis, it surprises with numerous parks, number of artificial water reservoirs and woodland complexes located at city outskirts or nearby urban areas. They provide city residents with good living conditions, serving as a place of relaxation and nature admiring without the necessity of leaving the city or taking a long journey. Nevertheless it is hardly ever associated with parks and woodlands but still more often with the industry and its nuisances.

Expectations in the project

There is still a need to protect the natural vales and improve the quality of the recreational infrastructure serving daily and weekend recreation of the residents. That is why the mutual exchange of experience and the analysis of particular cases seem to be an effective way to learn more about other methods of creation, financing and management of periurban parks.

There is also a need to popularize the natural and recreational assets of "Silesia" Metropolis in order to facilitate the gradual change of its negative image from the past.