Students in Poland plant rose garden to honor sister city in Tyler, Texas

The City of Tyler is newly featured in the Avenue of Partner Cities, a project of the city of Jelenia Góra, Poland.

Tyler’s thirty years of friendship with the southwestern Polish city has been commemorated in the Avenue of Partner Cities, which is the name of the organization in the European Union. Michael Kryla, a representative of Jelenia Góra, says that the avenue was created during the Pandemic to remind their citizens of their multiple international relationships and to keep the energy of the partnerships moving forward.

Fourteen flowerbeds align with the Avenue, each dedicated to one of Jelenia Góra’s partner cities around the globe. Each flowerbed is accompanied by a plate in both English and Polish sharing information about the partnering towns.

Welcomed very positively by the inhabitants, the Avenue now beautifies one of Jelenia Góra’s ornate parks. The Avenue was a concept developed by Ms. Anna Rychlewska, a teacher from the Jelenia Góra Natural-Service School, with the school’s students doing the planting. As years go by, the students hope to expand the flower beds and are encouraging Tyler and other partners to be a part of the expansion.

“We are humbled by this thoughtful dedication,” said Tyler Mayor Don Warren. “We are looking forward to visiting our friends in Jelenia Góra and the Avenue very soon.”

 Likewise, Tyler Sister Cities President Brent Pemberton remarked, “What better way to be honored than by the garden of roses planted by our friends in Jelenia Gora!”

The next Tyler Sister Cities trip to Poland is anticipated for the fall of 2022. In the meantime, and as travel restrictions are lifted, the cities also hope to renew faculty exchanges between Karkonosze College and Tyler Junior College.