Skarpa Powsińska

Skarpa Powsińska is a neighbourhood, and a City Information System area, located in Warsaw, Poland, within the district of Ursynów. The area includes two single-family neighbourhoods, Janówek and Łęczyca, as well as the Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden – Powsin Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation, and the Powsin Culture Park.

History
In 1913, within current Skarpa Powsińska, then part of the village of Klarysew, was constructed the Janówek Villa. From 1928, it was the residence of Fangor family. In 1943 artist Wojciech Fangor, created there a ceiling painting titled Pleiades, with mythological and astronomical motives.

By 1933, within Skarpa Powsińska were located two villages, Janówek and Łęczyca, which were part of the municipality of Jeziorna.

In 1938, the Polski Country Club bought an 50 hectare area in Skarpa Powsińska from count Adam Branicki to built there a golf course. In the 1940s, during the occupation of Poland in the Second World War, it was turned into a farmland. In 1947, the land was donated to the city of Warsaw, for it to establish there a recreational area, which became the Powsin Culture Park.

On 15 May 1951, the area was incorporated into Warsaw.

In 1974, in Skarpa Powsińska was established the Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden – Powsin Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation, with an area of 40 ha. It was developed between 1978 and 1990. It also incorporated the Janówek Villa, and its gardens.

In 1996 was established the municipal neighbourhood of Prawdziwka, located between Prawdziwka Street, Muchomora Street, Kabaty Woods, and field near them, which included Łęczyca. It became a subdivision of the municipality of Warsaw-Ursynów, which was replaced by the city district of Ursynów in 2002. The neighbourhood status was reconfirmed in 2013. It is governed by an elected neighbourhood council. In 1998, the district was subdivided into the areas of the City Information System, with one of the becoming Skarpa Powsińska.

Characteristics
Within eastern portion of Skarpa Powsińska are located two small single-family neighbourhoods, Janówek and Łęczyca, both centred on Prawdziwka Street. Łęczyca forms the municipal neighbourhood of Prawdziwka, with boundaries determined by Prawdziwka Street, Muchomora Street, Kabaty Woods, and field near them. It has the total area of 54 ha.

At 2 Prawdziwka Street is located the Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden – Powsin Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation, which has an area of 40 ha, and includes over 10,000 species of plants in its collection, including numerous exotic and rare examples. It is also a research facility of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Within its boundaries is also located the Janówek Villa, a historical 20th-century residence, which currently hosts plethora of cultural events. Among them is Floralia Muzyczne classical music festival, organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Society. The building also includes a 1943 ceiling painting with mythological and astronomical motives, titled Pleiades, by artist Wojciech Fangor, which has the protected status of cultural property.

At 1 Maślaków Street is also the Powsin Culture Park, a recreational and sports area. Among its amenities are basketball and volleyball courts, swimming pool, and acoustical shell. It has an area of 35 ha.

Location and administrative boundaries
Skarpa Powsińska is a City Information System area located in Warsaw, Poland, within the south-eastern portion of the district of Ursynów. Its borders are determined by Kabaty Woods Nature Reserve, Prawdziwka Street, and the border of the district of Ursynów. It borders Kabaty Woods Nature Reserve to the northwest, Powsin to the east, and the municipality of Konstancin-Jeziorna to the south. Its eastern boundary forms the border between districts of Ursynów and Wilanów, while its southern boundary forms the city border with the Piaseczno County.