Prijepolje, 12 August 2025

Park of National Heroes: A Space for the Next Generation

After more than three decades, the Park of National Heroes in the heart of Prijepolje has come back to life—greener, safer, and more welcoming than ever. Nestled by the Mileševka River, this once-neglected space has now become a meeting point for all generations, thanks to the support of the European Union and the Government of Serbia.

The transformation unfolded in two phases. First, the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications invested approximately 322,000 Euros, with the Municipality of Prijepolje contributing around 17,000 Euros, to build new sports fields for basketball, futsal, volleyball, and tennis. A protective grid was added over the renovated drainage channel, and the stands were upgraded with new concrete stairs.

But it was the second phase, funded through the EU PRO Plus programme, that gave the park its final, modern touch. With over 172,000 Euros from the EU and almost 40,000 Euros from the Municipality, the park was equipped with new pathways, lighting, video surveillance, and fitness equipment—all designed with accessibility in mind.

Now, the park is more than just a recreational area. It’s a community space: safe, inclusive, and built to reflect the needs of everyone—from toddlers to pensioners, from athletes to people with disabilities. Adapted paths and specialised equipment ensure no one is left out. There’s even a corner for chess, nestled among greenery.

These initatives, the same as all other local infrastructure projects, share a simple goal—to improve everyday life. However, for the people of Prijepolje, the impact is anything but simple. It’s personal. It’s pride. It’s the joy of watching children play where weeds once grew, of seeing young people train on new fields, of offering a place where everyone belongs.

Once a fading green space, the Park of National Heroes is now a living tribute—to the past it honours and the future it inspires.

This project in Prijepolje is one of 39 local infrastructure projects across Šumadija and Western Serbia, and Southern and Eastern Serbia, funded by the EU through the EU PRO Plus programme with over six million Euros. These projects are improving the quality of life by upgrading educational, healthcare, and social welfare institutions, as well as sports and cultural facilities, public administration buildings, and communal services.