From a landscape to an urban oasis: the XVI district would use Lake Csobaj as green space

The Municipality of the XVIth District is to purchase the recreational area of the Csobaj lake and its surroundings in Cinkota, once used as a gravel and sand mine.

"We have signed a contract under which the municipality will buy this 154,000 square metres of land from the previous owner and will use it as green space in the future"

- said Péter Kovács, Mayor of the XVI. district at a press conference held on the spot.

He noted that the land will be purchased for about half of the price established by the official forensic valuer and fixed in a court judgment, and that this will be paid in instalments over five years. Péter Kovács added that the majority owner, who owns 98% of the land, has undertaken to buy out the minority private owners.

The new green heart of the capital

Kristóf Szatmáry, Member of Parliament, said that the sale and purchase agreement puts an end to a nearly two-decade-long complication, as together with the civilians and the residents they have long fought to ensure that Lake Csobaj and its surroundings remain a green area, and that nothing that would adversely affect it could be built there.

"The Csobaj mine and its area will be the new green lung or heart not only of the XVI district, but of the whole Budapest. We have only taken the first step, the functions of the area will be found in the next five to ten years"

- said Kristóf Szatmáry.

József Szász, local councillor, said that this area of more than 15 hectares is a very large ecocentre in the capital, but it is currently a landscape that needs to be restored, in line with the wishes and needs of as many people as possible.

A call for ideas will be launched

Mayor Péter Kovács said that there are ideas on how the green development will be implemented in the area.

"We would like to launch a call for ideas for the residents and then for the professionals on what could be done here. We're definitely thinking about green space. The municipality of the XVIth district is not stingy with money, we hope to get government funding for this purpose as well"

- replied Péter Kovács.

According to experts, the area around the lake has become a habitat, resting and breeding place for many protected species, so the Cinkotai mine is of particular ecological importance for the conservation of local biodiversity.

In addition to half a dozen species of fish, the lake is home to several protected amphibian species, such as large pond frogs, wood frogs and brown toads. The lake, its reed beds, nearby scrub and woodland are frequented by many species of birds for shorter or longer periods, and foxes and deer are regular visitors to the hills around the lake.