On warm spring days it’s good to go out and breathe the fresh air.

In Poznań, there are many green spaces, which provide leisure opportunities. Among them there are also some beautiful parks which have a  several-dozen-year old history.
The oldest park in Poznań is the Thomas Woodrow Wilson Park, stretching between Głogowska and Matejki Streets, only several hundred metres away from the railway station and the Poznań International Fair area. This park was founded early in the 20th century. Due to the rich number of plants it housed, it was referred to as the Botanical Garden back then. It consisted of two parts, a landscape park and a geometrical park. In the landscape park , there were two ponds, receiving water from a creek flowing from an alpine garden erected there. Soon after the park was opened for visitors, a palm house was built there, which was the first in this part of Europe.
After Poland's independence was restored in 1918, the park was continually tended and modernised. In 1926 it was named after the American president, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, a Nobel Prize winner for peace, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the USA. In 1918, Wilson spoke in favour of founding an independent Polish state. In addition, a memorial stone was erected in the garden, to commemorate the anniversary of the USA gaining independence. Several years later, a statue of president Wilson, carved by Gutzon Borglum, was erected in the park. Borglum was known as the author of titanic carvings in the rock of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, depicting the heads of four presidents of the USA. Both the stone and the statue were destroyed during World War II. A new bust of Thomas Woodrow Wilson was placed in the park in the early 90’s.

Photo 1 – The Wilson Park (provided by Poznań City Council)

At the beginning of the 20th century, another park was founded, the Sołacki Park, situated several kilometres from the city centre. The park was designed as a landscape park, with the main objects being two ponds, created by stopping the waters of the Bogdanka, which flows there on its way to the Warta River. By one of the ponds an impressive restaurant was founded nearly a hundred years ago. Today, a small hotel also exists there, along with the restaurant. In the summer, classical music concerts are held on the restaurant’s terrace.
The trees of this park are also very interesting. Apart from inland tree species, there are also some exotic trees, like  the Eastern Hemlock, Bald (Swamp) Cypress or the Douglas – fir.

Photo 2 – The Sołacki Park (provided by Poznań City Council)

The botanical garden in Dąbrowski Street in Jeżyce, which is a scientific research establishment of the Adam Mickiewicz Univeristy, also retains the form of a park. From May till late autumn it is open to visitors. An area of 22 hectares houses an impressive collection of over 7000 plant species and varieties, coming from almost all the climatic zones of the Earth. The exposition is divided into several sections: decorative plants, sorted by geographical origin, systematics, according to the plants’ biological features and their volatility.

Photo 3 – The botanical garden (provided by Poznań City Council)

The biggest park in Poznań is the Citadel. This old Prussian fortification (19th century) has been used as a park facility for several dozen years now. The area of the Citadel is crossed by lanes and walking paths. While walking, one can admire the remains of the old stronghold. Some of the World War II bunkers house weaponry museums. In the summer, bicycle races and cross - country races are held.  

 Photo 4 – The Citadel (provided by Poznań City Council)