Functional and spatial aspects of the riverside areas development in cities of the Silesian Voivodeship

Abstract

The subject of the article are rivers in urbanized areas with a particular role of introducing functional and spatial changes in areas adjacent to rivers. The research concerns the contemporary ways of transforming and introducing new development in the urban riverside areas of the Silesian Voivodeship. The experiences of recent years have shown the diversity of creative activities leading to the shaping of the new image and landscape identity of the cities. This diversity results from the changing economic, political, social, cultural or natural conditions. The new directions of development of areas located along the rivers also play a significant role. Research presents selected activities undertaken on a local and regional scale. They reflect ways to search roads towards sustainable cities. Improving the quality of riverside public spaces is associated with the desire to improve the living conditions of urban communities. This process depends on the financial, legal and organizational possibilities as well as the willingness of the municipal authorities. Some of the undertaken activities are a reflection of the aspirations of local communities for whom a well and safely developed riverside space becomes a place of the nearest recreation and leisure. The article objective is to show the possibilities and limitations of the riverside areas development and the use of river potentials in the cities of the Silesian Voivodeship. It is also an attempt to answer the questions whether these activities are sufficient to create riverside public spaces, if they meet the needs of residents, to complete the functional and spatial urban structure, and whether the effect of these activities is visible in the cities landscape of the Silesian Voivodeship.