After more than two years behind construction fences, one of Prague’s busiest public spaces is returning to daily life.

Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, known to generations of Prague residents simply as “Jiřák,” will officially reopen today, June 17th, following an extensive renovation.

The project has brought new trees, upgraded infrastructure and redesigned public areas, while also triggering heated discussions among locals over how one of the city’s best-known squares should evolve.

City officials say the reconstruction was designed to make the square more resilient to rising temperatures and increasingly frequent periods of drought.

Around 100 new trees have been planted throughout the area, including a new tree-lined section along Vinohradská Street intended to help reduce traffic noise and limit the spread of dust and pollutants from one of the district’s busiest roads.

The renovation also replaced traditional asphalt surfaces with permeable paving capable of absorbing and retaining rainwater. Drinking fountains have been installed, children’s play elements added and the square’s fountain upgraded with more energy-efficient technology.

Despite the changes, planners insist the site has retained its identity as an urban park rather than becoming a predominantly paved plaza.

However, not everyone has been convinced.

Among the most common concerns raised by residents has been the amount of stone paving introduced into the redesigned space. Critics fear the surfaces could intensify heat during the summer months.

Prague 3 officials have rejected those concerns, arguing that the light-coloured paving sourced from Czech manufacturers reflects heat more effectively and is balanced by the increased number of trees..

One of the most controversial aspects of the project involved the removal of the metro entrance built in 1981 by academic sculptor Petr Šedivý. Architects and historians attempted to save the structure through an open letter, describing it as an architecturally valuable part of the square’s history.

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