Smetanovy sady

Smetanovy sady is a park right in the centre of the Czech town of Jihlava, in the Vysočina region. Although the site's history goes back to the late 19th century, the park is currently undergoing a major transformation meant to turn it into a modern recreational space and a meeting point for locals and visitors alike.

How did the park in the centre of Jihlava come to be?

The park was laid out in 1891, exactly on the site of a former municipal cemetery. That cemetery had previously surrounded a Chapel of the Holy Spirit, built back in 1559. Once the burial ground stopped serving its original purpose, the wall enclosing it was torn down and trees were planted in its place. That is how one of the oldest green spaces in downtown Jihlava emerged from a former graveyard, and traces of that history can still be read in the shape of the grounds today.

What does the current revitalisation involve?

Smetanovy sady has recently gone through an extensive rebuild. The city invested close to 19 million Czech crowns in the project, with half of that sum covered by a grant from the EU-backed IROP programme (Integrated Regional Operational Programme) and the other half funded from Jihlava's own municipal budget. The goal was to create a functional, ecologically minded park that could serve both everyday relaxation for residents and outdoor cultural events.

What has changed in the greenery and infrastructure?

The new planting brought over a dozen trees to the park - among them horse chestnuts, maples, beeches, oaks, lime trees, pear trees and cherry trees. Dozens of shrubs were added as well, including yews, viburnums, hydrangeas and magnolias, along with hundreds of perennials, bulb plants and roses meant to keep the greenery varied for most of the season. The paved surfaces were rebuilt too - a new asphalt walking oval, footpaths, and spaces set aside for benches, bike racks and an open-air stage for concerts and gatherings.

Is the park open to visitors already?

Yes, Smetanovy sady has reopened to residents and tourists now that the main construction work has finished. There is one notable restriction, though - visitors are not allowed to walk on the freshly seeded lawns until the young grass has had time to root and take hold. That is a standard precaution after this kind of large-scale landscaping investment, meant to protect the results from being trampled before they are established.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Smetanovy sady located? In the centre of Jihlava, in the Czech region of Vysočina, on the site of a former cemetery that once surrounded a Chapel of the Holy Spirit.

When was the park created? In 1891, after the municipal cemetery was closed and the wall around it was demolished.

Can visitors walk on the lawns? Not always - following the recent revitalisation, the newly seeded lawns are temporarily off-limits until the grass roots take hold.

What can visitors find in the park after the rebuild? New tree and shrub plantings, perennials and roses, a paved walking oval, benches, bike racks and an open-air stage for events.

Who paid for the revitalisation? The nearly 19-million-crown cost was split evenly between an EU grant from the IROP programme and the city of Jihlava's own budget.