{"id":6385,"date":"2025-11-03T08:33:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T07:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/?p=6385"},"modified":"2025-11-03T08:33:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T07:33:11","slug":"thermal-source-of-success-municipality-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/thermal-source-of-success-municipality-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Thermal Source Of Success. Municipality on the Rise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The hot springs in Podd\u0119bice have heated\u00a0up not only the water, but\u00a0also the local economy. The\u00a0thermal baths have become a\u00a0catalyst for investment, attracting developers, business partners and tourists. Piotr S\u0119czkowski, the\u00a0mayor of Podd\u0119bice and\u00a0winner of Leader by Vocation<\/em>, talks about municipal development on various levels, primarily due to the European Union funds.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When did your leadership skills become visible?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To be perfectly honest, my friends from school reunions frequently remind me of the fact that 30 years ago I said I would become a mayor. I studied at the Veterinary Technical College in Wrze\u015bnia \u2013 I love animals and have always dreamed of becoming a vet. Later on, I graduated in administration and political science in Bydgoszcz, returned to Podd\u0119bice and immediately got socially involved. I\u2019ve always been passionate about sport, so I started organising tournaments, which quickly made me recognisable. I worked in the promotion department of the district starosty, and subsequently became the manager of the District Social Welfare Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you play sport?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Until my twenties, I played football, always as team captain. Years later, to get back in shape, I took up tennis. It quickly became my passion \u2013 today I support Iga \u015awi\u0105tek, and I\u2019ve even passed on my love of tennis to my five-year-old grandson, who\u2019s just starting his adventure with the racket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thermal baths<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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How did your local government activity begin?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I began as a councillor for the P\u00f3\u0142noc housing estate. Residents often came to me with various issues and encouraged me to run for mayor. I won in the first round and then, step by step, gained trust of my voters. Today, I\u2019ve been serving my fifth term now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please, name achievements you take pride in.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m fully satisfied with the effective management of thermal water resources. It\u2019s brought measurable environmental and economic benefits. Following the AGH (University of Science and Technology) research, which indicated the presence of water within Podd\u0119bice underground, we managed to obtain funding from the National Fund for Environmental Protection to drill a borehole in 2009. The project cost PLN 12 million. The water extracted from a depth of 2,101 metres is as old as 27,000 years and has excellent parameters: a temperature of 72\u00b0C, microbiological purity and is fit for bathing, consumption and heating. Within a decade, we\u2019ve built a heating network that supplies 80% of the city, a boiler room and thermal baths. The water\u2019s supplied to hospitals, schools and other public buildings. I don\u2019t know of any other municipality that\u2019s implemented such a comprehensive project on such short notice. This wouldn\u2019t be achieved without the help of European Union funds and the support of the Marshal\u2019s Office of the \u0141\u00f3d\u017a Province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do\u00a0the thermal baths offer?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a place for total relax available all year round. Guests have access to as many as seven swimming pools, both outdoor and indoor, and the water attractions are complemented by sauna and spa areas. We pay special attention to the elderly and disabled. Our complex is designed to make everyone feel comfortable \u2013 we have pool ramps, hoists, wheelchairs, handrails, grab bars and many other amenities. The baths take place in unique water with a bicarbonate-sodium-silica-calcium composition. It\u2019s hyperthermal and safe for everyone, regardless of age. The compounds it contains have a great effect on the skin: they moisturise and cleanse it. The temperature of the water itself improves circulation, relaxes muscles, relieves joint pain and has a soothing effect on the nervous system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thermal Water Pump Room is located in the historic building of the former Evangelical-Augsburg church, now also the seat of the Integration Theatre \u2013 an open social space that brings people together and offers publicly accessible cultural, educational and therapeutic events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thermal Water Pump Room<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Has thermal infrastructure influenced the development of tourism in Podd\u0119bice?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Definitely yes \u2013 the thermal baths are the most popular and irresistible attraction, but the town has much more to offer. Podd\u0119bice, founded in the 14th century and remaining a private noble town until World War II, boasts a Renaissance palace surrounded by a historic park located by the Ner River. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century, funded by Zygmunt Grudzi\u0144ski, the voivode of Rawa. The Grudzi\u0144ski family also built a church with Renaissance architectural features, the altar of which is decorated with sculptures of saints of high artistic value. As part of the palace and park complex revitalisation, the Sensory Garden was created, divided into five zones with interactive installations. The investment cost PLN 20 million and was supported by European Union funds. The Prima Ballerina Fountain, opened in 2024, with sculptures by Ma\u0142gorzata Chodakowska, considered one of the most beautiful in Poland, is also impressive. In nearby Borysew, there is a private zoo \u2013 serving as popular attraction for 16 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How have thermal baths affected municipal investments?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thermal baths have become the driving force behind the municipality\u2019s development. We cooperate with Dermedic, the \u0141\u00f3d\u017a-based company using our water in dermocosmetics and planning to build a research and development centre at the borehole. Developers have already bought plots of land and one of them has almost completed the construction of modern apartments. Further plots are being prepared for investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Renaissance palace in Podd\u0119bice & Garden of the Senses<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What about culture, sport and education?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Podd\u0119bice Culture and Sports Centre is very active. The Dalia majorette team wins international awards and promotes the town at prestigious events. For several years now, famous artists from the Polish music scene as well as international stars have been performing in Podd\u0119bice. We cooperate with Polskie Radio, which organises concerts for us as part of Lato z Radiem tour and Telewizja Polska – this year featuring performers such as Dawid Kwiatkowski, Bovska and Afromental. Termalna Maj\u00f3wka with Radio Eska opens the season. There are several sports clubs: handball, martial arts and the oldest one \u2013 LKS Termy Podd\u0119bice football club, founded in 1958, currently playing in the IV liga (fourth league). In 2013, we opened the Tourism and Recreation Centre in Byczyna \u2013 a complex comprising sports fields, a tennis court, a running track, a water zone, fishing piers and conference facilities. The investment cost PLN 21 million, most of which (PLN 10.5 million) came from EU funds and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism. Children and the young now study in a renovated school, financed with EU funds. Now it\u2019s time for the nursery school \u2013 we\u2019re just starting its modernisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re very effective in obtaining EU funds.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right \u2013 for years we\u2019ve been at the top of the ranking of Wsp\u00f3lnota – the Local Government Magazine. We\u2019ve received numerous awards at the International Congress Centre in Katowice, and this year we\u2019ve also been recognised.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Prima Ballerina Fountain<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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How do\u00a0you spend your free time?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I play tennis, enjoy watching matches. Oftentimes, together with my wife, a Polish language teacher, we visit theatres in \u0141\u00f3d\u017a. I travel quite frequently, especially to places with thermal waters, to take a quick peek at new interesting solutions. I recently visited Bad Radkersburg the Austrian spa area where I made contact with the mayor and invited him to Podd\u0119bice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your plans and dreams?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re planning to implement two road projects and revitalise three city squares. We also plan on building a\u00a0dozen or so council flats. I\u2019d like to invite hotel industry investors to Podd\u0119bice and observe the municipality\u2019s constant development. And privately? I\u00a0dream of Widzew playing in the Champions League and Iga \u015awi\u0105tek staying at the top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dorota Kolano<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The hot springs in Podd\u0119bice have heated\u00a0up not only the water, but\u00a0also the local economy. The\u00a0thermal baths have become a\u00a0catalyst for investment, attracting developers, business partners and tourists. Piotr S\u0119czkowski, the\u00a0mayor of Podd\u0119bice and\u00a0winner of Leader by Vocation, talks about municipal development on various levels, primarily due to the European Union funds. When did your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1126],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6385"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6385"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6385\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6398,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6385\/revisions\/6398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}