Park w metropolii – perspektywy i paradoksy

The aim of this article is to present the role of landscape in shaping the image of cities, and to stress the need of reinterpreting the approaches and activities related to city landscape. The general remarks on the need and attitude to the landscape protection have been presented, as well as some positive examples of the activities related to enhance or restore the green and recreation areas within the cities, or create them on the areas previously of other functions. In contrary, some threats related to the development and the quality of life in metropolis, caused by wrong decision concerning the townscape, have been shown. The case study of Gdansk sea-shore area was chosen as an example illustrating these thesis. These study cases prove, that there is a need of strategic planning of city landscape, and of development of special tools and methods. The landscape studies should be connected with the processes of town planning, especially in the context of rapid urbanization, technological and social changes, and growing consumption in relation to the environment.