Bartłomiejka, Artificial lake in Śródmieście, Szczecin, Poland.
Bartłomiejka is an artificial lake with a fountain system located near Szczecin's City Hall. The water sits in a shallow basin that serves as a drinking source for residents and animals during warmer months.
The reservoir was built in 1998, replacing an earlier fire prevention basin that had operated since 1947. The conversion of an emergency water storage facility into a public water feature marked a shift in how the city approached public spaces.
The name honors Bartłomiej Sochański, a mayor who championed urban development in the city. The water attracts both residents and birds that gather to drink and rest.
The location is within walking distance of City Hall and easy to find. Access is best during warmer months when the fountain is active and the space is most used by visitors and locals.
What sets this place apart is that the fountain came from repurposing an old fire prevention basin rather than being built from scratch. This solution showed how existing infrastructure could be transformed to serve the community in new ways.
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