Millennium Park in Sosnowiec

Millennium Park (Park Tysiąclecia) in Sosnowiec is an extensive municipal park of 102 ha, in the Milowice district by Baczyńskiego Street. It was created on the post-industrial land of the “Saturn” mine, hence the landscape of mounds left by former spoil heaps, ponds and tracks of the old sand railway, along which cyclists ride today.

From mine to park

After the war the land was part of the Wiktor mine, later Milowice and Saturn, with a spoil heap, settling ponds and illegal small pits. In 1965-1971 military exercises of a territorial defence battalion were held here. The name Millennium Park appeared on plans around 1970 and applied to the western part of the area. The land was reclaimed many times, and trees were planted in stages, so the park has areas with different dominant species.

In 2020-2021 a revitalisation was carried out. 11,000 trees and shrubs were planted, including pedunculate oaks, small-leaved limes, beeches and hornbeams, the Rów Kalny pond and the paths were renovated, and some of them were lit. At the entrance steps and a ramp for wheelchairs were built.

What is inside

The best developed part is the north-eastern part of the park, with gravel paths with lighting, shelters and rest areas. There are two educational trails: a longer one, almost 1.5 km, with information about nature, and the 500-metre “Forest Experiences Trail” for children.

The park has several small, shallow ponds, most of which are densely overgrown with water plants. Black alders grow around them, and the banks are occupied by reed, broadleaf cattail and yellow iris. Three protected species grow here: guelder rose and two species of orchids, the broad-leaved helleborine and the dark red helleborine. The ponds favour the breeding of amphibians, including the great crested newt and the common toad.

Cycling along old tracks

The former industrial railway tracks have been turned into cycling routes with a total length of about 4 km, and downhill mountain bike runs are also maintained. The park lies at the end of the Former Borderland Cycling Trail and is linked by paths with Alfred Park in Czeladź, with Katowice and with Sosnowiec. Cycling competitions have been held here since 2012, and since 2017 half marathons and accompanying runs have been held regularly.

Nearby

It is about 2.6 km from here to the Rolling Mill - Zinc Metallurgy Museum, and about 4.8 km to Nikiszowiec in Katowice.

Practical information

• Address: Baczyńskiego, Sosnowiec-Milowice.
• Four regular entrances lead to the park. The main one is on Baczyńskiego Street, by the Milowice Podjazdowa tram stop. Another is by the car park near the animal shelter, and from the Stawiki side the entrance and cycle access lead over a bridge across the S86 road.
• The paths are gravel, so they suit both cycling and walking. On the downhill runs watch out for cyclists.