Coming Back to the
Vistula River

Tczew is a town located on the Vistula River, 32-km. south of Gdańsk. However, the social life in the town has moved away from the river. After the Second World War, housing construction developed in Tczew, resulting in the creation of new dis-tricts and the decay of the Old Town located on the river. Revitalization of the historic part of the town, while taking into consideration and making use of its unique location on the largest Polish river, has become feasible only with the help of two programs financed with European funds.
Foreign contacts with sister cities, especially the Barking & Dagenham borough of London and the German town of Werder\Havel have permitted authorities to  tackle the problem of the dilapidated areas on the Vistula River.
The Know-How Fund
"The broad experience of Londoners has

proved a valuable lesson, instructing us on the necessity of reconstructing the Old Town.  Our English partner, looking at our town in perspective and having in mind his own experience, provided us with very interesting recommendations for development of the Old Town on the river", says Zenon Odya, the Mayor of Tczew. The English made us aware of issues we had not managed to identify. We have incorporated this advice into our plans. Tczew's partners from Barking & Dagenham noticed, for example, that developing and refreshing the Old Town is the best chance for revitalizing the diminishing social life in the district.
Discussions with representatives from Barking & Dagenham resulted in a joint, that is part of a project run by the British Know-How Fund, which has financed a joint project for Tczew and the London borough. The project proposes making investments aimed at moving the cities back to the rivers they are located on Tczew to the Vistula River and Barking & Dagenham to the Thames. "We share similar problems that can be solved by making use of mutual experience.The authorities of Barking & Dagenham have assisted us in acquiring from the European Union

 funds necessary for carrying out the task", says Z. Odya.
The program for Tczew provides for revitalizing the Old Town and its development in the direction of the river, so that its advantageous location can be put to use.
"The English suggested consulting various circles as one of the means for solving the problem of developing the area on the river", says Z. Odya. In Tczew, we have discussed the issue with residents of the riverbank district and entrepreneurs running their businesses in the area.
According to the mayor, experience gained in the course of preparing the Know-How program can be used in carrying out the Interreg II C, which is another program introduced in Tczew.

The program has been financed from the Phare Fund, and as in the case of Know-How, Tczew has embarked on it thanks to its cooperation with the sister city of Werder\Havel in Germany.
This year, Tczew will obtain EU funds designated for implementing the project 'Development of Sea Coast Zones - Creation of Baltic Towns' Network'. The major aim of the project is development of the Vistula riverbanks and neighboring areas.  The participation of Polish teams is financed in 80% by the Interreg program and the Phare funds. Authorities from Tczew are responsible for contributing the remaining 20%.
"Life in Tczew should come back on the river, which would benefit the town", says Z. Odya. Proper use of the riverside areas will help us to lessen the problems related to the city traffic. In addition, the Vistula River can be a cheap transportation route and a major tourist attraction..