The project to improve Pilaitė’s public space, which was developed with residents, has moved forward with the issue of a building permit. The square will include sports fields, a community event space and spaces for quality recreation.
“The designers of ID Vilnius (formerly Vilniaus Plan) are planning to implement the project on a 0.6 ha plot of state land between I. Simonaitytės and M. Jankaus Streets. The project was supervised by Lolita Vileikienė and Audronė Alūzienė, and the architect was Sima Balčiūtė.
At present, most of the site is flat and treeless, the lawns have been cleared, and residents have planted dwarf pine trees on their own initiative in parts of the site.
This is a very important place for residents. The area is surrounded on all sides by apartment blocks with no quality recreational spaces. Although there is no infrastructure, the square is used for community festivals, sports activities and children play football on the grass.
A few years ago, meetings were held with residents to ask their opinion on what they wanted in the square, and then the project itself was presented.
In line with residents’ wishes, the square will have plenty of space for active pursuits, including basketball, tennis and volleyball courts and a mini football pitch. The sports fields will be fenced off and separated from the residential areas by an array of green areas.
The central and western parts of the square are intended for various activities. There will be a relaxation area with a reflexology (foot massage) trail. The southern part will be left as a meadow, with a footpath and planting around it to reduce noise from the street. The large lawn is reserved for community events and active or passive recreational activities on the grass. A Christmas tree is planted next to the meadow to decorate it for winter festivals, an electricity connection is installed, as well as benches and an information stand. Lighting is also provided in the square.
Existing recreation areas planted with pine trees will be adapted for cosy meeting spaces, small events, board games, picnics and gymnastics. A children’s playground shall be located in the central part of the square: far enough away from the street to prevent children from running out into the street, and also visible from the adult recreation, meeting and gymnastics areas. The main attraction of the northern part of the square is a partially planted sand dune, which creates a special sandy atmosphere.
As many streets in Pilaitė are named after Lithuania Minor, one of the name options for the new square is Mažosios Lietuvos.
Trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are chosen accordingly. Pines, birches, elder trees, elderberries, coastal willows, mountain pines and herbaceous plants such as sandwort, rye grass, fescue, etc. will be planted in the square.
The Vilnius Municipality will invest in this public space. It is estimated that the cost of the square will be around EUR 906 thousand. Contract works are scheduled for next year.
In addition to this square, the Municipality plans to create two more public spaces in Pilaitė: a square by St. The municipality will also create two new squares in Pilaita Street: a square at St. Joseph’s Church and a square between Karaliaučiaus and Varnė streets. Design work is currently underway for both areas. The design of the public space at St. Joseph’s Church is being developed with parish funds, the design of the area between Karaliaučiaus and Varne Streets is being developed with community funds, and both will be provided by the City Municipality.
