From an Industrial Site to a Green Place
The former Popowice depot became the central focus of the Local Group’s work within the broader project framework led by the City. Together with stakeholders, we explored how this post-industrial area could be transformed into a multifunctional green place responding to social, environmental and cultural needs. Through joint discussions and analyses, ideas for new functions, activities and forms of management were developed, helping to define possible pathways for gradually bringing the site back to life.
As a key outcome of this process, the foundations for an Integrated Action Plan were created. The plan combines international inspiration from URBACT partner cities with local knowledge and experience, and sets clear directions for future development. Although the formal project phase will conclude at the end of 2025, the City of Wrocław plans to continue working step by step to implement the planned activities and further develop the Popowice depot as an open and publicly accessible space.
Active Methods and Inclusive Participation
The work of the URBACT Local Group was based on URBACT tools and active, participatory methods coordinated within the project framework. Workshops, co-creation sessions, a local hackathon and a study walk around the Popowice site were used to jointly explore challenges and opportunities. These diverse formats allowed participants to contribute their expertise, ideas and perspectives in different ways, ensuring inclusive participation and space for dialogue.
This open approach strengthened cooperation between stakeholders and helped build mutual trust, leading to creative yet realistic solutions rooted in local needs and capacities.
Testing Ideas in Practice – The Green Boiler House
An important element of the project was testing ideas in real-life conditions. One of the most visible pilot actions was the creation of the Green Boiler House (Zielona Kotłownia) at the Popowice depot. Together with residents, volunteers and local partners, workshops were organised on creating community and rain gardens, as well as on building garden furniture.
The activities were complemented by the creation of a mural painted by a local artist, which added a strong visual identity to the space and highlighted its community-driven character. A public opening event invited the wider neighbourhood to discover and start using the Green Boiler House.
The testing action proved to be a success. Today, the Green Boiler House remains a public and open place, available for use by local organisations and residents, and serves as a tangible example of how temporary actions can lead to lasting change.
Learning and Exchange at the International Level
Members of the Wrocław URBACT Local Group actively participated in the international dimension of the GreenPlace project. They took part in transnational meetings with partner cities and were involved in hosting study visits of project partners in Wrocław. These exchanges enabled learning from different European contexts, inspired local actions and strengthened the competencies of both municipal staff and local stakeholders.
The Final Conference – A Celebration of Cooperation
The activities of the URBACT Local Group were officially summarised during the final conference held on 21 November 2025, on the Day of Kindness. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on two and a half years of joint work, present key results and celebrate cooperation within the group.
During the conference, the outcomes of the ULG’s activities were presented, including the Handbook on restoring “forgotten” urban areas into valuable places FOR and WITH residents, prepared by the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU), which offers practical guidance and inspiration for urban greening processes. A special moment of the event was dedicated to expressing gratitude to the members of the URBACT Local Group for their long-term engagement, commitment and excellent cooperation.
The conference also marked an important step towards the future. A letter of intent was signed, confirming the willingness of partners to continue cooperation for the further development of the Popowice depot. Diplomas and small tokens of appreciation were presented to ULG members as a symbol of recognition for their contribution.
The programme was enriched by a lecture by Dr Tomasz Sielicki, who shared insights into the history and context of Popowice, as well as by a city game that allowed participants to explore the area, better understand the city and strengthen integration within the group.
A Shared Achievement and a Starting Point
GreenPlace has shown that meaningful urban transformation is a long-term process built on dialogue, trust and cooperation. The experience gained, ideas developed and relationships established through cooperation between the City of Wrocław and the URBACT Local Group provide a strong foundation for future actions.
We would like to sincerely thank all members of the URBACT Local Group for their openness, creativity and dedication over the past two and a half years. The work continues, and the Popowice depot remains a shared space for further development, experimentation and collaboration.
Article written by Joanna Gańcza-Pawełczyk on 15/12/2025
