The upcoming ERDF-funded restoration project will cover an area of over 55,000 square meters in the Rafutski Park which was designed as a garden in the beginning of the 20^th century, but left to decay after both world wars. A unique natural site, the Park features cultural heritage elements and landscape heritage elements with its rich historic park, garden and architectural features. As part of the project, the municipality intends to build several entrances to the Park, restore the park area by clearing the overgrown vegetation, maintaining the existing trees and shrubs or planting new ones, and develop the relevant utility and road infrastructure, including a viewing platform along with park furniture, to prevent further decay of the Park. The project will ensure that the Park, recognized as a natural asset of national importance and a cultural monument of local importance, is restored to its former glory, making this once privately owned park open to the public. A circular trail that will take the visitors on a walk around the Park allowing them to learn about various plant species will also be created. Restoration works will kick off in the spring this year, with the project completion scheduled for the spring of 2023.

The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has so far ring-fenced EUR 77.3 million under the Integrated Territorial Investments mechanism to support the revitalisation of degraded urban areas in Slovenian urban municipalities in the programming period 2014-2020. As a result, over 350,000 square meters of urban areas were restored.