The quantity and condition of urban greenery directly affect the quality of life of residents and space users. This quality is linked to measures that reduce the negative impact of climate change. It was assumed that urban greenery should not only be protected but also should have its stock increased, which is not easy in a historical, compact structure under statutory conservation. This paper discusses the issue of green areas in the strict city centre of Krakow, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. The study area includes two medieval towns that had their town charters issued in the 13th and 14th centuries, which together formed a central town and a satellite town. Kazimierz and Stradom were subjected to a detailed investigation. A review of the literature and other sources made it possible to identify changes in the structure of green spaces in terms of chronology and quantity. Changes in the area, accessibility and the legal provisions arising from the various forms of statutory conservation and their consequences were analysed. Multi-criteria analyses of the historical urban structure and the types, forms and potential for introducing greenery into the historical area were also performed. The intention was to strengthen green infrastructure, which is a key element in climate change mitigation.

The paper aims to compare the existing spatial planning system in both countries, their spatial planning laws, documents and planning approaches. It focuses on the level of land use and urban planning instruments at the local level. It addresses the administrative and procedural characteristics of the two countries as well as experiences and examples of best practices that can be shared in the future. The results presented show that the countries are quite similar in terms of both the planning system and the typology of spatial planning acts. There are clearer differences in the planning approaches at the local level and in the current challenges regarding the stakeholders' participation in the planning processes.

STRESZCZENIE Artykuł dotyczy problematyki planowania terenów rekreacyjno-wypoczynkowych w kontekście terenów zieleni. W pracy przeanalizowano wskaźniki urbanistyczne dotyczące terenów sportowo-rekreacyjnych i zieleni, a także aktualny potencjał rekreacyjny terenów zieleni Krakowa. Zakres czasowy pracy obejmuje okres od 1945 do 2021 roku. Wskazano zagrożenia, jakie mogą nieść za sobą interpretacje rankingów dotyczących stopnia zazielenienia miast oraz przedstawiono wnioski. Najistotniejszym z nich jest konkluzja, że Kraków dysponuje ogromnym, choć nierównomiernie rozłożonym potencjałem rekreacyjno-wypoczynkowym, który można wykorzystać w planowaniu terenów rekreacyjnych. Mimo tego, ciągle zauważalne są asymetrie w dostępie do takich terenów. Praca zwraca również uwagę na rewizję pojęcia "zieleni dostępnej" i podejmuje próbę jej redefinicji.