Sustainable revitalisation and resocialisation of the Medard site

The project entitled “Sustainable revitalization and resocialization of the Medard site” presents a major breakthrough in the transformation of the region by making previously inaccessible areas around Lake Medard accessible to the public. Fot the first time ever, this reclaimed area will be made accessible to the public while public interests (biodiversity protection, accessibility and use) stay protected across the site as part of future development.

The aim of this project that seeks funding through the Operational Programme Just Transition is to build publicly accessible infrastructure, basic amenities and thematic educational elements around the lake.

The planned public infrastructure includes parking areas to be set up on the eastern and western sides of the lake; the entire site will also be interconnected along the southern and northern shores. Necessary visitor facilities will also be erected to make staying at the lake a more comfortable experience. Nature trails, information boards and visitor centres focusing on topics related to the area’s history, climate change and biodiversity protection will also be added to provide information, education and to raise awareness. The infrastructure under construction does not contain any elements that would serve any future capital projects.

The project is being developed in accordance with the vision “The shore belongs to everyone”. The way the area surrounding Lake Medard will be developed makes the shoreline freely accessible to the public while alleviating discomfort of the negative environmental impact of the coal industry for the benefit of Karlovy Vary Region residents.

The concept also aims to protect the shoreline and to ensure that it stays unaffected by any further development and remains freely accessible to the public in the future.

The project design envisages inclusive, sustainable, fair and environmentally responsible development of the area and contributes to achieving biodiversity and social objectives through establishing conditions for leisure and sports use of what is a reclaimed territory of a former quarry.

The project co-funded by the Operational Programme Just Transformation will build publicly accessible infrastructure that is not of a commercial nature. Consequently, no profit will be generated by the project. 

On the other hand, during the sustainability period of the project, significant additional funds – dozens of millions CZK – will be spent by the beneficiary on the maintenance and functionality of the infrastructure. Economic links to future development are not part of the strategic project.