The children’s playground at Kamzík awaits major improvements

Bratislava Forest Park is an exceptionally popular place that is visited by as many as a million people each year. However, great popularity comes with great responsibility. The primary responsibility is to protect our forests but also to think continuously about how to sensitively develop them and create places that bring joy and new experiences in nature. This is why we are modernising the infrastructure, improving signage, restoring fire pits and creating resting places, so that everyone can get to know the forest better and experience it to the fullest.

We are currently initiating an expansion of the natural Šantisko na Kamzíku site, which is one of the most visited recreational locations in the forest park. It has long been a popular destination for families with children, cyclists and hikers, who come here for relaxation, the views and sports. Among the most sought-after features in the area are the existing playgrounds – the aforementioned natural Šantisko [a place for frolicking, playing around] – two smaller children’s playgrounds and a workout area for adults.

It is the existing Šantisko that will undergo significant expansion and improvement. New elements for various age groups will be added – an agility course, climbing nets, a zip-line, various types of balance beams, swings and rotating elements, as well as tunnels, slides and balance tree stumps. These will be complemented by new furniture directly from the workshop of the City Forests. The Šantisko will contain more challenging elements to improve children’s motor skills, making it attractive to children even with repeated visits – as a challenge to master previously unconquered elements.

The most striking element and new dominant feature of Šantisko will be a unique 8-metre wooden fox full of play elements. Why a fox? Because the Little Carpathians are its home. Although foxes can only rarely be seen in nature in Kamzík, this Carpathian symbol will now reach people, every day, all year round. The fox will be made of high-quality acacia wood, which has a long lifespan. The result is an element that is not only an attraction, but also a full-fledged experience that fits naturally into the forest.

The fox will offer children many opportunities for play: two slides – a smaller one for younger children and a large toboggan for older ones – a 3D system of climbing nets, steps, ladders and a maze inside. The structure will allow climbing on the outer shell of the statue, supplemented by climbing holds on the tail and paws. Another interesting element will be the transparent eyes, which will offer an unconventional view of the landscape.

The play area fox will replace two current smaller playgrounds, which the City Forests will move to their new area in Petržalská Hájovňa. The workout playground will remain intact; it will shifted only be slightly.

And all this will be in harmony with nature with a natural design, with soft and ecological impact surfaces according to current safety standards and particularly with deep respect for the forest environment, which is irreplaceable for Bratislava. No felling of trees will be needed during the construction of the new playground. On the contrary, we also plan to plant new trees here.

A part of the project is lighting at the Šantisko and playground for better use in autumn, when it gets dark earlier, as well as strengthening security through a camera system.

The expansion of the playground follows on from several modifications that the City Forests have already made at Kamzík in the past two years – where new seating areas, more energy-efficient lighting, a rest area on the Meňavka slope and a new bus stop have been added. Together they are gradually creating a more comfortable and safer environment for all visitors. We believe that the new Šantisko will be a place where hundreds of new children’s stories will be created, the first daring climbs on rope nets, shared experiences and moments that children and parents will remember throughout their lives.