Revamped trail in Petržalka surfaced with wood chips. (source: Mestské Lesy v Bratislave)
The municipal forestry company Mestské lesy v Bratislave has completed the first section of a new nature trail connecting the Malý and Veľký Draždiak lakes through the local forests in Bratislava’s Petržalka borough. The project marks the beginning of a broader effort to develop a network of safe, accessible routes for walkers, runners and cyclists within the city’s urban woodland.
As part of the work, the organisation removed long-standing hazardous trees from the surrounding area. The trail surface was laid with wood chips produced on site by chipping branches from the felled trees.
“This has created a natural path with a soft and comfortable surface, which will particularly appeal to pedestrians, but also to runners and cyclists,” said Marek Páva, director of Mestské lesy v Bratislave, as quoted by the TASR newswire. “In wet weather, the wood chips help to firm up the trail and prevent it from becoming muddy.”
The newly opened stretch between Malý and Veľký Draždiak is the first phase of a larger revitalisation project. Other trails in the Petržalka forests are to be upgraded in the same nature-friendly way, using natural materials and removing damaged or dangerous trees.
The company completed the trail between Veľký Draždiak and the nearby asphalt path at Malý Draždiak in late April. Work then moved on to the wooded area in Ovsište, near the racecourse.
The Petržalka forests had long been neglected, suffering from litter, vandalism, and large numbers of fallen or unstable trees, particularly near popular walking routes. The area was recently placed under the management of Mestské lesy v Bratislave, which began implementing concrete improvements in January.
