Ranking of Pomeranian Health Parks in 2024
The Municipal Park in Wejherowo was named the best health park in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in 2024.
On the podium were also Regan Park in Gdańsk and the Sopot Błonia in Sopot.
The results at the top of the table were very close. The Aleksander Majkowski Park in Wejherowo ultimately won by a single point thanks to its modern communication strategy. It is the only park in the region with its own website www.parkmiejskiwejherowo.wznk.pl and social media channels that provide regular updates on events taking place there.
In 2024, as the Proturmed Foundation, we inventoried and described around 50 urban parks in the Pomeranian Voivodeship based on criteria such as size, accessibility, degree of afforestation, and available infrastructure. Given that parks share similar features, we decided to systematize this in a table. Then it was just a matter of tallying the points and adding those for the most important pro-health elements.
After calculating all the points, a unique ranking of health parks was created. We hope it will serve as an impulse for the systematic development of parks in the region based on healthy competition. More on the concept of the health region.
Ranking of health parks
In assessing basic equipment, elements such as playgrounds, gyms, benches, toilets, etc. were considered. In terms of health-promoting equipment: graduation towers, mushroom-shaped shelters, fitness trails, and sensory gardens. Points were also awarded for the presence of additional infrastructure (e.g., cafés), and some elements that clearly differed in quality were assessed on a three-level scale (e.g., playgrounds). The ranking included two places that are not formally urban parks but, due to their level of development, deserve to be included. In the initial phase, the location of the park (ease of access and parking) and its size were also evaluated (squares and small parks were excluded).
The Foundation is aware that the above ranking may contain some shortcomings in terms of criteria and scoring, which is why we will soon begin work on the ranking for the new season. Not only will new criteria be introduced, but certainly new parks as well, since several investments are currently underway in our region.
Ranking of the best 22 Pomeranian health parks in the 2024 season.
- Park Miejski, Wejherowo,
- Park Regana, Gdańsk,
- Błonia Sopockie, Sopot,
- Park Centralny, Gdynia,
- Park Kultury i Wypoczynku, Słupsk,
- Park Derdowskiego, Władysławowo,
- Park Oruński, Gdańsk,
- Park Starowiejski, Rumia,
- Park „Subisława’, Gdańsk,
- Park Tysiąclecia, Chojnice,
- Park Północny, Sopot,
- Park Brzeźnieński, Gdańsk,
- Park Oliwski, Gdańsk,
- Park Miejski, Starogard Gdański,
- Park Północny, Sopot,
- Park na Goyki, Sopot,
- Bulwar Nadwiślański, Tczew,
- Park „Staw Młyński”, Gdańsk,
- Park Kaczyńskich, Gdynia,
- Park Południowy, Sopot.
Explanation of scoring in the table
Equipment considered in individual columns:
- basic (degree of afforestation, toilet, flower bed, playground, gym, sports field, drinking fountain, water reservoir, educational element, fountain, car park) – a maximum of 16 points could be scored
- health facilities (gradient tower, mushroom, fitness trail, barefoot path, sensory garden) – a maximum of 5 points could be awarded
- other (amphitheatre, dog run, art installations, elements referring to the history of the place, café) – maximum 5 points.
One point was awarded for almost every element. Only in the case of playgrounds was a scale of 1 to 3 points introduced to assess the size and attractiveness of the playgrounds. In the case of toilets, 2 points could be obtained for modern self-service toilets or public toilets and one point for portable toilets. In the case of forest cover, a maximum of two points could be obtained.
We are involved in this because we believe that:
– city parks are becoming increasingly popular due to their values, which respond to social, ecological, psychological, and health needs,
– health parks are an important element of public space, ideal for promoting healthy, active outdoor recreation, local community integration, ecological education, and relaxation,
– health parks are attractions for both residents and tourists, so it is worth promoting the best ones,
– urban parks are undervalued as spaces that support maintaining or regaining health,
– health parks are potential sites for new technologies and innovative solutions in health-promoting offerings, which only require more attention and discussion on the topic.
There are many more reasons. Caring for health parks will benefit us all.
Caring for and developing health parks will benefit us all.
More about health parks in this article.
If you have any questions or want to stay up to date, please visit www.regionzdrowia.pl and our profile Region Zdrowia Pomorski, where you will find more information about the project and the concept of the health region. The Pomeranian Health Guide 2024 #PIZ24 is also available for download there Pomorski Informator Zdrowotny 2024 #PIZ24 along with many other details about health-promoting facilities in the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
