The park in Brno's Husovice has new paths and a statue of its patroness after revitalization

Brno – The revitalized park along with a new statue of its patroness Maria Restituta Kafková was opened today by representatives of the city and the municipal district in Brno's Husovice. The revitalization work on the park, which received new paths, a wooden walkway, and greenery, cost 10.5 million crowns, new lighting amounted to 1.5 million crowns, and the statue according to the design by Radim Hanke cost 3.3 million crowns. The total costs thus exceeded 15 million crowns.

"The art competition generated 38 designs, with 35 meeting the conditions. The winning design was particularly appreciated for its integration into the park space and the figurative conception of the work," stated Brno's mayor Markéta Vaňková (ODS) during the unveiling of the statue. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), who lives in nearby Černá Pole, said at the ceremonial unveiling of the statue that his family has a personal connection to the park, as one of its first revitalizations in the 1990s was carried out according to the design of his mother-in-law.

The revitalization of the park was carried out by the Brno municipal district Brno-north, with work starting in October of last year. The architectural design was created by Eva Wagnerová. "Thanks to the project, the entrance to the park from Rotalova and Elgartova streets was cultivated, featuring low comfortable steps and a brick structure that bears the name of the park. A memorial to the Husovice victims of both wars was also newly placed, which corresponds with the statue," added the deputy mayor of the Brno-north district Martin Glogar (KDU-ČSL).

The statue designed by Radim Hanke and Ellement Architects has a realistic likeness of Blessed Maria Restituta. "The competition was open, and it could take the form of a realistic figure or a symbol. I conceptualized it as an image of a specific personality who inspired me greatly. She was very assertive, full of energy, and was an outstanding surgical nurse. At the same time, she had enormous moral values," stated Hanke regarding the design.

The Park of Maria Restituta stands on the site of the old Husovice cemetery, which was closed in 1962. Later, a railway line from Tišnov was established above the cemetery, of which the original railway embankment leading into the Husovice area has been preserved to this day. In 1983, the site was transformed into a public park, and in 1999 it was named after the Husovice native Helena Kafková, who, as a nun, took the religious name Maria Restituta. She dedicated her life to caring for the poor and the sick. The municipal district had the upper part of the park repaired years ago in the area of the former Tišnov railway.