When a city renovates its community spaces, it feels a little like the place we live in is smiling back at us. In Nyíregyháza, three familiar spots have recently been given a new lease on life: the Alvéges Cultural Center, Kölyökvár, and Robinson Hill.
Kölyökvár, built in 1929 in the city center, has long been a beloved venue for children’s programs. Thanks to EU co-funding, it has now been fully modernized. The main hall was upgraded, the ceiling and balcony supports were reinforced with steel, and new flooring was laid throughout the dance hall, the upstairs hall, the restrooms, and both terraces. The building also received a brand-new roof: asbestos-containing slate tiles were removed and replaced with metal sheet roofing. To protect against rising damp, an injection-based waterproofing system was applied. The old single-pane wooden windows gave way to factory-finished wooden frames with triple-glazed insulating glass. In the heating center, a new pump was installed, and modern steel radiators replaced the outdated cast-iron ones.
The Alvéges Cultural Center is another cornerstone of community life, especially for residents in the southern part of the city. This busy venue, originally built in the 1950s, has also been completely refurbished. The project included a new roof, façade insulation, an upgraded heating system, and modernized restrooms. Accessibility improvements now make the building easy to reach and use for everyone. It continues to host dance and recreation groups, senior clubs, choirs, cultural programs, and community events.
And then there’s Robinson Hill, a local favorite since 1976 and one of Jósaváros’s most exciting spots. Over the years, the playground equipment had worn out and become unsafe, so a major upgrade was badly needed. The old two-tower climbing structure has been replaced by a brand-new four-tower play castle, complete with a rubber safety surface. A twin giant slide has also been added to the hillside, making the park a fun and safe destination for families in the neighborhood.
Together, these upgrades to the buildings and playground create new opportunities for connection, shared experiences, and cultural activities. And that’s what really makes a city feel like home.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project TOP-7.1.1-16-H-ERFA-2018-00026 under the Territorial and Settlement Development Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder: Details
