From the very beginning of the “Zgierz – modern city after hours” project (July 2021), we paid great attention to communicating the achieved results. Numerous promotional materials, non-standard forms of online activities (e.g. a specially created profile on TikTok channel: Jeż ze Zgierza) – and above all, the presence on Zgierz events with a dedicated tent: the project’s activities were loud in the city. And outside the city limits? We also tried to raise an external buzz! For this purpose, a coach was created, covered with special graphics illustrating the changes that Zgierz is going through.
The modern, large, cruise Setra, covered with a graphic composition presenting photos of Zgierz, has been traveling all over Europe since spring 2023, both in the spring and summer cruise season and later, until the end of the project. The bus was selected and decorated with graphics by the Opal Tours travel agency, which won the tender procedure.
The idea to promote Zgierz in this way was born earlier: in 2021, the city celebrated the bicentenary of signing the so-called Zgierz Agreement, wrapping the bus turned out to be a bull’s-eye. The vehicle attracted the attention of passers-by with its unusual graphics from a distance. Ultimately, the bus traveled for two years in the colors of Zgierz, promoting the city during many trips, domestic and foreign. The current contract is for one year (2023 – 24) of this type of “branding”.
Outdoor events, selected both from the annual calendar of city events, as well as organized in Zgierz itself or its vicinity, became a frequent opportunity for us to display our design tent. Inside, you could always find gadgets and materials promoting the idea of developing Zgierz as an increasingly resident-friendly city.
The exhibition of the design stand was possible for the first time during the cyclical event “End of Summer” (renamed the following year to “ZgJeżoGranie”). Both then and a year later, during the next edition of the event, we informed residents about the project’s goals, but also conducted surveys that served as analytical and research material for substantive projects implemented as part of the project.
In March 2023, after a two-year break, one of the most colorful events – Zgierski Kaziuk – returned to the city calendar. Over one hundred and sixty exhibitors created a colorful exhibition in the “wooden” part of the city (Rembowskiego and Narutowicza streets), including our promotional tent. We created a stand where Zgierz residents answered important questions regarding public consultations. During the all-day artistic and exhibition event, organized in reference to the tradition of “Kaziuki” in Vilnius, many people stopped in our tent and willingly filled out surveys.
Justyna Steczkowska, IRA, Urszula and Julia Pietrucha – these are the stars of the festival on the occasion of the Open Days of European Funds, which took place on May 13, 2023 in the Zgierz city park. The exhibition part of the event promoted institutions that obtain funds from various sources of European financing. Among them – the Commune of the City of Zgierz. It was the first time we could talk “outdoors” about the new version of the city application (its extension was possible thanks to participation in the project).
Our tent, where you could not only install the new “app”, but also learn everything about city investments carried out with external funds, was visited by about one hundred and twenty people that day. All visitors, if they wanted to download the app to their smartphone thanks to the new incentive (or demonstrated that they already had it), received a package of promotional gifts. Several dozen new users installed the application on their phones.
As usual, on the first weekend of June (June 3-4, 2023), the inhabitants of Zgierz celebrated a two-day festival of their city. Outstanding guests appeared on stage (Agnieszka Chylińska, Tomasz Karolak, Przemysław Saleta), and in the tent of the “Zgierz – modern city after hours” project, everyone could download the city application for free. This time, over three hundred people took advantage of this opportunity.
The tent of the project, implemented as part of the “Local Development” Program, was one of the most frequently visited places of the two-day exhibition of the Zgierz City Festival. The rules of our game were very simple: whoever installed the free application on their smartphone could throw a large dice. The indicated number of points determined the type of prize awarded. They included umbrellas, small arcade games and bags – all gadgets made as part of the project activities.
In accordance with the continuing Zgierz tradition, the ceremonial opening of the summer season took place on June 24-25, 2023, at the Malinka recreational center. Among the many attractions and surprises available to participants of weekend relaxation by the water, there were presentations of the City’s organizational units. We took advantage of this opportunity by setting up a tent where you could learn everything about the “Zgierz – modern city after hours” project.
The design stand not only offered a wide range of information about activities undertaken as part of the ongoing projects. Interested people received an information folder as well as gifts – which were our design gadgets. The children were the most satisfied because the gifts included inflatable balls, made especially for the opening of the holiday season, perfect for playing in the water and on the beach.
On the evening of the last day of August (August 31, 2023), the Glitter Party took place in front of the Stary Młyn in Zgierz. A bit like the well-known festival of colors, young participants were sprinkled with glitter while dancing. The music was provided by famous DJs. In line with the idea of the new youth policy, from 2023, the City will listen much more closely to the voice of young residents of Zgierz. Their opinion on the undertaken activities becomes crucial also in connection with the implementation of the project “Zgierz – a modern city after hours”.
– We are on the eve of a decision on how to equip the planned chill-out zone at Boya-Żeleńskiego Street– told us Mirosława Sobolewska, Head of the Urban Greenery Department of the Zgierz City Hall, who was also responsible for the project of creating a chillout zone for young people – A party with DJs is a great magnet for young people. We asked them what equipment we should install in the relaxation zone at the housing estate nearby.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, we celebrated Seniors’ Day locally. Elderly people can feel really good in Zgierz: there is no shortage of cultural and recreational attractions for them, and the recently opened (as part of our project) new Zgierz Senior Center at Narutowicza 29 Street is a perfect place for meetings and spending free time. The senior policy of the Commune of Zgierz, which has been implemented for several years, is set across Poland as an example of a well-run local government offer for older people. People who have the Zgierz Senior Card (or the “Senior” version of the Zgierz Resident Card, introduced at the beginning of 2024) can take advantage of many attractions, benefits and facilities throughout the year.
All promotional activities related to the dissemination of the ideas and results of the “Zgierz – modern city after hours” project were carried out thanks to financial support from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 under the Local Development Program.
