Located on Ejsmonda Street, the tennis courts in Gdynia could gain legal protection. The process of including them in the register of historical monuments would make a good script for a compelling film in which, in addition to the conservator, community activists, the Provincial Administrative Court and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage have their roles.
The so-called Sports Forum is a complex located on Ejsmonda Street in Gdynia. The facility is located in a picturesque area of the city, right by the sea. Its history dates back to 1932, when, along with the construction of the city stadium in Ejsmonda Street, the famous tennis courts number 1 and 2 were built. The attractive location means that the site would be successfully developed by developers.
In July 2024, the sports complex was entered in the register of monuments. The decision was made at the time by Dariusz Chmielewski, Pomeranian provincial conservator of monuments.
The pre-war tennis courts on the Ark are an important part of Gdynia’s sport, with local and national tournaments organised there for years. In addition, their wonderful location, near the seaside boulevard, makes them unique among other sports complexes. The inclusion of the courts in the register of monuments ensures that the historic, scientific and artistic values can be taken care of,” Aleksandra Kosiorek, Mayor of Gdynia, informed at the time.
Sports competitions were held at the stadium located at the site as early as the 1930s:
The protection covered the grandstand of the former stadium, part of the so-called “Górka”, part of the tennis courts and the local old-growth forest), at the same time the entry did not cover the whole part of the area.
Entrance to the courts:
After a few months, however, the joy of fans of the modernist foundation came to an end. The conservator’s decision was challenged by the Arka Tennis Club and the Nova Foundation, who sent a protest to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The Ministry decided to overturn the conservator’s decision. However, the local association “Wszystko dla Gdyni” decided to fight for legal protection for the sports facility and filed an appeal to the Voivodship Administrative Court in Warsaw in February this year.
A match watched from a flat in a nearby block of flats in 1974:
Members of the association “Wszystko dla Gdyni” reported that the WSA overturned the decision of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and ordered officials to reconsider the case.
The Minister will have to reconsider the matter of entering the site (…) in the register of monuments, taking into account the legal assessment and the court’s indications in the judgment. The association will continue to take an active part in the proceedings in order to protect this area, valuable to Gdynia and its inhabitants,” wrote its chairman Wojciech Ogrodnik on the facebook page of the “Wszystko dla Gdyni” association.
Will the tennis courts in Gdynia finally gain legal protection? The ball is now in the Ministry’s court.
photos: Filip Czyżewski
source: www.gdynia.pl
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