North Ursynów

North Ursynów is a neighbourhood, and a City Information System area, located in Warsaw, Poland, within the district of Ursynów.

North Ursynów mostly consists of highrise multifamily housing. Two largest neighbourhoods, which make up most of its area, are Jary, and Stokłosy. There are also two urban parks, the John Paul II Park, and Roman Kozłowski Park. Additionally, there are also the Vistula University, and the Służewiec Horse Racing Track. In North Ursynów are also located two stations of the Warsaw Metro rapid transit underground system, which are Ursynów, and Stokłosy.

By the 1930s, within the modern boundaries of North Ursynów was located a small settlement of Imielin Nowy. In 1939, there was opened the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, which at the time was the largest, and most modern horse racing venue in Europe. In 1977, in North Ursynów was completed construction of the neighbourhoods of Jary, and Stokłosy, which consisted of the highrise multifamily housing.

History
In 1903 in the area of modern North Ursynów was opened the Służewiec narrow-gauge railway station, which was operated by the Grójec Commuter Railway, and served the population of the nearby village of Służewiec. It was part of the railway line between stations of Warszawa Mokotów and Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą. The station operated until 31 July 1971. It was located to the south-east of Służewiec, near the current intersection of Puławska Street, and Dolina Służewiecka Street.

In 1925, the Society of Horse Breeding Promotion in Poland (Polish: Towarzystwo Zachęty do Hodowli Koni w Polsce) had bought an area of 1.5 km2 (0.58 square miles), on which they began the construction of the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, which was opened in 1939. Upon its opening, it became the largest and the most modern horse racing venue in Europe. The race track is located at 266 Puławska Street.

By the 1930s, within the modern boundaries of North Ursynów was located the settlement of Imielin Nowy, placed to the north from the village of Imielin. There was probably also located portion of the farmlands of the neighbouring villages of Służew and Wyczółki.

In September 1939, the race track had been captured by the German forces, during the Siege of Warsaw in the Second World War. During the German occupation of Poland, it served as a airstrip for the fighter aircraft. In July 1944, there were stationed between 600 and 800 soldiers. On 1 August 1944, on the first day of the Warsaw Uprising, the airstrip had been attacked by the Polish resistance partisants from the Karpaty Battalion of the Baszta Regiment Group. The attack was unsuccessful, with partisants experiencing heavy casualties. Later that day, in retaliation, the German forces had executed there captured partisans and a group of civiliann rounded up in the nearby Służew.

On 14 May 1951 the area was incorporated into the city of Warsaw.

Between 1971 and 1977, there was established the residencial area of North Ursynów, with the total area of 126 ha. It conists of two neighbourhoods, Jary to the west, and Stokłosy to the east. The neighbourhoods are separated by Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, and encompassed within an area marked by Dolina Służewiecka Street, Rodowicza Street, Ciszewskiego Street, Pileckiego Street, and Puławska Street. The neighbourhoods consist of 4- and 13-storey multifamily residential large panel system buildings, and prefabricated reinforced concrete service buildings. They were designed to have in total 9,580 apartments, and house around 39,300 people. The main architects responsible for the project were Marek Budzyński, Jerzy Szczepanik-Dzikowski, and Andrzej Szkop. Between 1971 and 1977, within the boundaries of Jary was also build the neighbourhood of Koński Jar-Nutki with multifamily residential large panel system buildings, located between Surowieckiego Street, Zaolziańska Street, Dolina Służewiecka Street, and Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, and centred on Koński Jar Street and Nutki Street. In 1977 next to it was also opened the Roman Kozłowski Park. It includes the Cwil Mound, an artificial mound formed in 1976 from the ground excavated during the construction in North Ursynów. In 1977, across North Ursynów were placed series of twelve sculptures made in various techniques, known as the Ursynów Sculptures. They were made under the patronage of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers, by artists Edmund Majkowski, Janina Mirecka-Maciejewska, Marek Jerzy Moszyński, Ryszard Stryjecki, Władysław Trojan, and Stefan Wierzbicki.

Between 1982 and 1989, at 101 Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue was built the Catholic Church of the Ascension.

Between 1986 and 1996 was constructed the gated community of Surowieckiego 2, 4, 6, 8, located between Puławska Street, Jana Zaorskiego Street, and Surowieckiego Street. It consists of four four-storey-tall multifamily residential buildings. It was designed by architects Adam Kowalewski, Jerzy Szczepanik-Dzikowski, Olgierd Jagiełło, and Maciej Miłobędzki. Nearby, between 1993 and 1999, was constructed the gated community of the Neighbourhood of Techniczna Construction and Housing Association, located between Zaolziańska Street, Zaorskiego Street, Puławsk Street, and Dolina Służewiecka Street. It consists of eleven three-storey-tall multifamily residential buildings.

On 19 September 1990, at 8 Bacewiczówna Street, was opened the first IKEA store in Poland. It operated until 1992, with company moving to other locations in the city.

In 1992, at 3 Stokłosy Street, was opened the Vistula University, one of the oldest, and one of the leading private universities in Poland.

On 7 April 1995, in North Ursynów were opened two stations of the M1 line of the Warsaw Metro rapid transit underground system. They are Ursynów station, located at the intersection of Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, Surowieckiego Street, and Bartoka Street, and Stokłosy station, at the intersection of Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, Jastrzębowskiego Street, and Herbsta Street.

In 1998, the district of Ursynów was subdivided into the areas of the City Information System, with North Ursynów becoming one of them. It mostly included the neighbourhoods of Jary and Stokłosy, as well as the main circuit of the Służewiec Horse Racing Track. In 2000, its boundaries were modified, with an area between Wyczółki Street, Puławska Street, Poleczki Street, and Galopu Street, being ceded to Grabów.

On 18 May 2000 was opened the John Paul II Park, located between Romera Street and Melodyjna Street. It was constructed between 1999 and 2000, and designed by Dorota Sikora.

Housing
North Ursynów mostly consists of the residencial areas with multifamily residential buildings.

In its eastern portion is the neighbourhood of Stokłosy, located between Dolina Służewiecka Street, Rodowicza Street, Ciszewskiego Street, and Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue. In the central portion is also located the neighbourhood of Jary, placed between Dollina Służewiecka Street, Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, Ciszewskiego Street, Pileckiego Street, and Puławska Street. Both neighbourhoods consist of 4- and 13-storey multifamily residential large panel system buildings. In the central-north portion is the neighbourhood of Koński Jar-Nutki, which consists of multifamily residential buildings. It is located between Surowieckiego Street, Zaolziańska Street, Dolina Służewiecka Street, and Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, and centred on Koński Jar Street and Nutki Street.

In the central-east portion of North Ursynów, is the gated community of the Neighbourhood of Techniczna Construction and Housing Association, which consists of eleven three-storey-tall multifamily residential buildings. It is located between Zaolziańska Street, Zaorskiego Street, Puławsk Street, and Dolina Służewiecka Street. To the south is the gated community of Surowieckiego 2, 4, 6, 8, which consists of four four-storey-tall multifamily residential buildings. It is located between Puławska Street, Jana Zaorskiego Street, and Surowieckiego Street.

Public spaces
In North Ursynów are located two urban parks. In its northcentral portion is the Roman Kozłowski Park, located between Koński Jar Street, Nutki Street, Zaolziańska Street, Dolina Służewiecka Street, and Rzymowskiego Street. Within its boundaries is located the Cwil Mound, an artificial mound constructed in the 1970s. To the south, at Romera Street and Melodyjna Street is located the John Paul II Park.

Nature
At the premises of the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, near Puławska Street, are located two small ponds known as Wyścigi Ponds, with areas of 0.4 i 0.21 ha. To the west, at the northwestern boundary of North Ursynów and Wyczółki, is also located the Wyścigi Pond, with an area of 1.917 ha. Along the boundary, and through the pond also flows the Służew Stream.

In North Ursynów are also located several natural monuments, including two white poplar trees, and six glacial erratics. This includes the Ursynów Boulder (Polish: Głaz Ursynowski in the Roman Kozłowski Park, which, with the height of 2.62 m, and circumference of 11.1 m, is the largest glacial erratic in the city.

Higher education
At 3 Stokłosy Street, is located the Vistula University, which is one the leading private universities in Poland.

Public transit
In North Ursynów are located two stations of the M1 line of the Warsaw Metro rapid transit underground system. They are Ursynów station, located at the intersection of Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, Surowieckiego Street, and Bartoka Street, and Stokłosy station, at the intersection of Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue, Jastrzębowskiego Street, and Herbsta Street.

Sports
At 266 Puławska Street is locate the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, including the main turf circuit with the length of 2300 m. Every year, the venue hosts the Great Warsaw Race, which is the most prestigious horse race in Poland. The other, smaller circuit is located outside the boundaries of North Ursynów, in the nearby Wyczółki.

Religion
Within North Ursynów, at 101 Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue is located the Catholic Church of the Ascension.

Culture
Across North Ursynów are placed series of twelve sculptures made in various techniques, known as the Ursynów Sculptures. They were made in 1977 under the patronage of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers, by artists Edmund Majkowski, Janina Mirecka-Maciejewska, Marek Jerzy Moszyński, Ryszard Stryjecki, Władysław Trojan, and Stefan Wierzbicki.

Location and administrative boundaries
North Ursynów is a City Information System area located in Warsaw, Poland, within the north-central portion of the district of Ursynów. To the north, its border is determined by Wyścigowa Avenue, Dolina Służewiecka Street, and around the intersection of Dolina Służewiecka Street and Komisji Edukacji Narodowej Avenue. To the east, its border is determined by Rodowicza Street, and around buildings at Chłapowskiego Street, and to the south, by Ciszewskiego Street, and Pileckiego Street. To the west, it is determined by Puławska Street, around the building at 270 Puławska Street, Wyczółki Street, around the boundary of the Służewiec Horse Race Track, and around the eastern shore of Wyścigi Pond, and following Służew Stream north.

It borders Służew to the north, Stary Służew to the northeast, Ursynów-Centrum to the southeast, Grabów, and Stary Imielin to the southwest, and Wyczółki, Warsaw, to the west. Its northern boundary forms the border of the district of Ursynów, bordering the district of Mokotów.