Rural Public Spaces – Shaping good public spaces in rural areas. Example of chosen villages of the Krobia commune

Three villages of the Krobia Commune (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) were selected as one of the four RELOCAL case studies carried in Poland, as examples of actions aimed at strengthening social capital by including various social groups (but living in one space) in the dialogue and joint activities improving living conditions, fostering integration and bridging social gaps.

From this particular case study, three aspects emerge all of which are closely interrelated and significant for local development, community integration and place attachment. The first was the creating social ties within the community as well as with external actors (increased trust and growth of social capital). The second was the ‘cascade effect’ of first projects in the community which led to the creation of many other initiatives. The third was bringing together areas and sectors that had previously been disconnected (breaking down barriers between the local community, local stakeholders, entrepreneurs).

Discussion over the local development activities as exemplified in selected rural areas of Poland might be underpinned to such issues as: 1) impact of the territory (various resources) on the establishment of institutions; 2) impact of social capital (e.g. knowledge, trust, social organisation) on the success of undertaken development activities; and 3) relations between local and supra-local (regional and global) functioning of the society.

For more information on this Case Study, please contact: Pamela Jeziorska-Biel – University of Lodz (pamela.jeziorska@geo.uni.lodz.pl)