The park in front of the University of Debrecen’s (DE) main building will be renovated, with residents’ opinions also being taken into account during the refurbishment of the historic French-style garden, the university’s press centre announced.
In a statement, the university said that participants at a consultation involving civil organisations and professional representatives agreed that the redesigned square should retain the character of the historic French-style garden while also meeting the challenges posed by climate change and the needs of modern times.
At the meeting, Rector Zoltán Bács recalled that at the beginning of the summer, the university had asked residents for their opinions through a questionnaire, as news about the renovation of Egyetem sqaue had generated “significant interest.”
The vast majority of respondents agreed that renovation was necessary, that the square should be made more accessible for pedestrians, that the amount of green space should be increased, and that more shaded areas should be created so the park can be used even during heatwaves. At the same time, many respondents rejected the idea of expanding the pool area, the university said.
The survey showed that residents want an Egyetem sqaue that retains its historic character while providing extensive green spaces and suitable shaded, park-like areas where people can relax.
Experts, however, stressed that preserving the historic character of the historicist French-style garden is essential, and that its axial layout, which harmonises with the cityscape, should be maintained.
Another important consideration was that the planned pedestrian paths and trails should reflect the needs of pedestrian traffic. The vegetation should also be able to withstand increasingly extreme weather conditions, while collecting rainwater would help support the irrigation of plants.
To increase the amount of shade, experts proposed planting a row of formally pruned plane trees along the southern edges of the square. They also discussed expanding the square’s use for cultural, family and community purposes. The possibility of creating a music pavilion or stage for outdoor performances, as featured in earlier concept plans, will also be examined, the university’s press centre said.
