This is how you do revitalization

The “Homer” estate in Bieruń has a complicated history. When in 1991 our municipality finally became an independent town, the estate remained in Tychy. Only ten years later, it was incorporated into Bieruń. However, it must be admitted that it did not have the best reputation at the time. For years workers' hotels for the employees of the Fiat factory were located there, later transformed into blocks of flats. Residents complained that the housing estate was neglected and ignored in investment plans. It was obvious that it needed revitalization in the full meaning of the word – both infrastructural and social.

Bieruń is an exceptional municipality for many reasons, also because it was the first city in the region to create its own Municipal Revitalization Program in 2015. It was then that we decided to involve “Homer” estate into the project. We have planned to create a unique sports facility no other Polish city had. In the old, dilapidated gymnasium, which was a remnant of a former military unit, we created a modern climbing facility under the proud name of “Adrenalina" Homer Sports Centre. The place is rich in modern equipment. It serves both adults and children, amateurs and professionals alike. Several climbing walls were created here, seven of which are dedicated to children. The highest wall is located in a specially built tower and it is 16.5 meters high. We have also organized a martial arts center here, where all clubs from our city can practice.

However, the process would not be complete if we did not include the revitalization of the “Nadzieja” community center, which has been operating for years in the adjacent building. We carried out a thorough renovation there, created a modern computer room, and obtained money to organize classes for the participants. The staff and collaborators of the community center do an excellent job for the children from the estate and deserved a new, functional facility.

At first, our ambitious plans seemed a bit like a science-fiction movie. But that is what revitalization is all about - the dying, degraded infrastructure is brought back to life to serve the citizens. All of us in Bieruń are proud of what we have done.

My adventure with rock climbing began some 30 years ago. I've seen and learned a lot during that time. I have been successful more than once – I have nailed some of the most difficult climbing routes in Poland.

Today, times have changed. Training methods, technique, infrastructure – everything is different, new, better. The climbers can reach peaks that I could only dream of in the past. But there is another problem. As an instructor and physical education teacher I have noticed that today young people are less and less interested in sport. They have a lot of different activities that seem more interesting and also less demanding; they are looking for something new, original, unique. I think that sports climbing could successfully meet the needs of the young generation.

I waited many years for the climbing center in Bieruń. And although I am an advocate of outdoor climbing myself, I think that the Bieruń facility is a perfect place to start this adventure. Various attractions await climbers visiting "Adrenalina" Sports Center in Homer estate. There are special walls for children, a MoonBoard for the advanced, a wall for time climbing, and a fantastic wall more than 16 meters high – a big challenge to feel real adrenaline. The center is also well equipped – campus, spinchboards, ropes, rods, gymnastic wheels and others, which allow for a wide range of specialist and general development training. What is important, there are also self-arrest devices in the hall, which allow for safe solo climbing. I hope that the hall will keep developing, because it has the potential to become a facility combining the characteristics of the public accessibility and top-level competitive sport.

Climbing is a great sport, which allows for pushing one’s limits. And it's never too late to start this adventure. We, climbers, say that it is a discipline for life, from youth to late adulthood. I've even met people in their seventies who have bravely beaten the next steps. I am sure that the climbing center in Bieruń will serve to promote this sport and I am very happy about that.