Rakówka River Valley Areas

The Rakówka River Valley areas form a green corridor running along the entire course of the river through Bełchatów, from Binków and Słoneczne, through Edwardów, to Okrzei and Budowlanych. The city manages a seven-kilometre stretch of the river within its administrative boundaries, and the valley serves as a local ecological corridor.

The river and its catchment

The Rakówka has a total length of 22.5 kilometres, and its catchment covers 147.2 square kilometres. Historically the valley consisted of undeveloped meadows, but has undergone changes through deforestation, river bed regulation and various forms of urban development.

Nature in the valley

The Rakówka is home to 12 fish species, including ide, orfe, perch, loach, eel and silver crucian. Since 2013, crayfish restocking has been undertaken in the river, in which approximately 1500 specimens have been introduced. Research by scientists from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie University confirmed gradual improvement in the river ecosystem, with particularly increased biodiversity noted in the vicinity of aleja Włókniarzy.

Site development

As part of the "Bełchatów in Green – Creating and Revitalising Green Urban Spaces" project, 30 hectares of land in the Rakówka Valley were revitalised. These include a municipal beach, salt springs and the Apple Orchard featuring Polish apple varieties. A walking and cycling route was laid along the river embankment, connecting the districts of Binków, Słoneczne, Edwardów, Okrzei and Budowlanych with the city centre. Near the MOSiR sports fields, between ulica Staszica and ulica Okrzei, there is an area called the Green Surround of the Fields, where maintenance work and supplementary tree planting is carried out.

Ongoing development

Work on the Rakówka Valley is ongoing and includes both nature protection and development of recreational infrastructure for residents.

Practical information

• Address: area along the Rakówka River in Bełchatów, main access point at ul. Okrzei 45, near the MOSiR fields
• Access: walking and cycling route along the river embankment, near public transport stops
• Manager: the city of Bełchatów, with support from the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Łódź
• What to expect: walking and cycling paths along the river, green areas with tree planting, a municipal beach and orchard in selected locations