Third May Park in Częstochowa

About

Podjasnogórska parks, sometimes called Jasnogórska parks, are two urban parks in Częstochowa, located in the Podjasnogórska district: Stanisław Staszic Park and 3 May Park. They lie between the Śródmieście district and the Jasna Góra Monastery, surrounding it from the east. The parks' boundaries were established between 1819 and 1826 during the planning of Najświętszej Maryi Panny Avenue, with development beginning in 1843. Together with Henryk Sienkiewicz Avenue, they span 11.8 hectares. Their rich, historically significant furnishings and structures led to their designation as a historic monument in Poland. The parks contain exhibition pavilions managed by the Częstochowa Museum.

The parks are situated near the Jasna Góra fortress and are listed, along with it, in the register of historic monuments under numbers 83 (14 November 1947), 1198/72 (20 December 1972), and 12/78 (17 February 1978).

Podjasnogórska parks are located on the eastern slope of Jasna Góra Hill, at elevations between 260 and 280 metres above sea level. Stanisław Staszic Park covers 5.4470 hectares, while 3 May Park spans 6.3870 hectares. Their boundaries are:

- Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Street and Kazimierz Pułaski Street – eastern,

- Bishop Bareła Passage – western. Both parks share a similar layout, featuring a main diagonal pedestrian path with branching paths leading to facilities and recreational areas.

Almost the entire park area is covered with trees and shrubs, with few flower beds arranged near monuments. The current tree population differs from the original due to multiple redesigns. Today's layout reflects a design by gardener Franciszek Szanior [ pl ] from the early 20th century, implemented during the 2000–2008 revitalisation.

Stanisław Staszic Park contains about 1,300 trees, typically between 100 and 150 years old, mostly deciduous. Native species like Norway maple predominate, alongside non-native ones such as green ash, blue spruce, Siberian spruce, northern red oak, cypress, and Chinese juniper.

3 May Park has around 1,600 trees, often over 130 years old, including northern red oaks, ashes, larches, horse chestnuts, and blue spruces.

Nine notable trees, aged 80–160 years with trunks exceeding 300 cm in circumference, are designated as natural monuments. For common pear and tulip tree, trees with circumferences over 220 cm are protected.

Podjasnogórska parks are located on the eastern slope of Jasna Góra Hill, at elevations between 260 and 280 metres above sea level. Stanisław Staszic Park covers 5.4470 hectares, while 3 May Park spans 6.3870 hectares. Their boundaries are:

- Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Street and Kazimierz Pułaski Street – eastern,

- Bishop Bareła Passage – western. Both parks share a similar layout, featuring a main diagonal pedestrian path with branching paths leading to facilities and recreational areas.

Almost the entire park area is covered with trees and shrubs, with few flower beds arranged near monuments. The current tree population differs from the original due to multiple redesigns. Today's layout reflects a design by gardener Franciszek Szanior [ pl ] from the early 20th century, implemented during the 2000–2008 revitalisation.

Stanisław Staszic Park contains about 1,300 trees, typically between 100 and 150 years old, mostly deciduous. Native species like Norway maple predominate, alongside non-native ones such as green ash, blue spruce, Siberian spruce, northern red oak, cypress, and Chinese juniper.

3 May Park has around 1,600 trees, often over 130 years old, including northern red oaks, ashes, larches, horse chestnuts, and blue spruces.

Nine notable trees, aged 80–160 years with trunks exceeding 300 cm in circumference, are designated as natural monuments. For common pear and tulip tree, trees with circumferences over 220 cm are protected.

Until the mid-18th century, the area was a typical Kraków-Częstochowa Upland limestone hill with meadows and pastures used by the monastery and Częstochówka [ pl ] residents. The first attempt to develop the area around Jasna Góra was a project by engineer Jan Bernhard [ pl ] between 1819 and 1826 to create Najświętszej Maryi Panny Avenue, planning a Jasnogórska Market as a third square alongside Ignacy Daszyński Square [ pl ] and Władysław Biegański Square [ pl ], linking Częstochówka and Old Częstochowa.

This project was abandoned due to the proximity of Wieluński Market [ pl ], local opposition citing the hilly terrain, and political shifts after the November Uprising.

On 1 January 1843, city authorities decided to create a garden within the boundaries set by the avenue's design. Work began in 1844, importing vast amounts of soil to cover the rocky base and level the slopes across over 11 hectares. About 1,400 trees were planted, the garden was fenced, and walkways were laid out, with completion in 1847. Until World War II, it was maintained by one or two city gardeners.

In 1908, before the Industry and Agriculture Exhibition [ pl ], Warsaw gardener Franciszek Szanior redesigned the neglected parks, removing most old trees and plants but preserving some notable specimens. Exhibition pavilions were built by prominent Polish modernist architects, including Stanisław Witkiewicz, Władysław Jabłoński, Edward Landau, Józef Kon, and Czesław Przybylski [ pl ]. Pathways were reshaped into ellipses and arcs, reflecting contemporary trends.