From the 18th century on, everywhere in Europe, city walls became obsolete and were in many cases transformed into public parks; these 'ring parks' became an archetype in the urban landscape architecture. In this paper, starting from the case of Planty Park in Cracow, we will compare a number of other cases and investigate differences and similarities between them. The results of this study might give us information, ideas, and experiences that can be of use in the planning and designing for the future development of Planty Park. We will analyse how these types of parks as elements in the urban landscape relate to the context, users, and the society at large. Research methods comprise: analysis of plans, site analysis, fieldwork, and conceptual development. We will start with an overview of the plan development, which will be followed by a programme definition based on information from the municipality of Cracow. What do users, the municipality, and other stakeholders have in mind concerning the future of Planty Park? In the second step we will analyse and compare some other cases of parks of a similar type. The analysis comprises an analysis of the site, the design history, the design means, and the future use and users. The results will constitute a basis for developing a strategy for the landscape development of Planty Park in the long run. In the third part the design principles of this type of parks will be analysed. By comparing these cases we will see if and how these results can be used for the future development of Planty Park. The conclusions focus on different strategies for developing plans concerning the future of parks that have a long design history and a cultural meaning; conservation through development in a contemporary manner. In this type of parks the question how the landscape remains readable as a cultural monument and an icon for the city, while at the same time allowing for its contemporary use, is an important conclusion and point of departure for planning and design.
