Is Katowice a good place for families?

Dynamic and enterprising, or perhaps quiet and family-friendly? What is the character of Katowice today? Which features dominate, and consequently – which residents feel most at home in this city? Today we look at Katowice through the eyes of families. Not long ago the city's mayor assured us that Katowice is very friendly to parents with children. Is that really so?

There are at least several arguments in favour of this claim. The first, very important one, is the kindergarten provision. As research by the Union of Polish Metropolises showed, in no other city in Poland do people pay less for pre-school care than in Katowice. The city funds not only attendance at state-run facilities but also supports private institutions. Only Lublin and Kraków also subsidise non-public kindergartens, but it is in Katowice that parents bear the lowest costs of keeping a child in kindergarten. In addition, last year the city gained 170 new kindergarten places, and by the end of this year there are to be another 111.

In August Katowice also received a grant under the “MALUCH plus” programme, whose aims include helping children with disabilities. The money is to be used to adapt 25 places in kindergartens to the needs of children with a certificate of disability who require special care.

As for the housing situation, things are very good in this area too. The city was the first municipality in the country to sign an agreement on building flats under the Mieszkanie Plus programme, and existing flats also have quite attractive prices. Admittedly, during the second quarter of this year prices for primary-market and secondary-market units went up, but compared with other large Polish cities Katowice still looks good on price. Properties are currently cheapest in the southern part of the city: Podlesie, Kostuchna, Zarzecze and Piotrowice. These are great places for families with children. Located away from the centre and its hustle and bustle, they are also much safer. For example, houses for sale in Katowice Piotrowice are varied in character (single-family homes and multi-storey estates), so they meet a range of expectations. Katowice's industry is located in Piotrowice, giving employment (and a short commute!) to many residents. There is no shortage of educational facilities, recreation areas and medical services.

Investment projects currently under way in Katowice also benefit families. Three new water parks are being built, with a children's zone as well as a spa and gyms for adults. Many initiatives for families are also being undertaken in the Dolina Trzech Stawów (Three Ponds Valley), the favourite recreation and sports complex of Katowice residents. Add to this the expanding network of cycle routes, and the answer to the question “is Katowice family-friendly?” becomes perfectly clear.