Senior Outdoor Recreation Specialist
Making Prague's parks and heritage sites accessible and enjoyable for older adults through thoughtful landscape design and route planning.
Slowlivingworkshops s.r.o.
16 Years in the Field
Václav's path into senior leisure and accessible outdoor recreation didn't follow a straight line. In 2008, he was volunteering with the Czech Red Cross, leading walking groups for elderly residents through Prague's parks. That's where something clicked. He noticed how a few simple design changes — a railing here, a gentler slope there — could completely change whether someone felt confident exploring or anxious about every step.
He went back to school. Charles University, geography degree, focused on regional development. Then five years with the Central Bohemian Region's Parks and Heritage Department, systematizing accessibility data across 40+ protected sites. Numbers on a spreadsheet, but the real work was understanding what those numbers meant for actual people.
In 2015, he published something that changed how people saw Průhonice Castle Gardens. A comprehensive accessibility assessment that identified 12 kilometers of practical, genuinely enjoyable senior-friendly routes. Routes that existed but weren't marketed, weren't celebrated. That work caught attention. slowlivingworkshops s.r.o. brought him on in 2019, and he's been developing content and research on senior outdoor access ever since.
What drives him? Simple. Age shouldn't mean missing out on nature's beauty. And good design — thoughtful, specific, respectful design — makes this possible without compromise.
Core Competencies
Documenting accessible pathways across Central Bohemian parks with precise accessibility assessments. He's walked these routes, tested them, and knows exactly where the challenges and opportunities are.
Understanding how terrain, surfaces, and design elements either support or restrict senior mobility. Not generic ramp standards — real solutions for real places.
Making historical estates and protected sites work for older visitors. Balancing preservation with access isn't easy, but he's done it across dozens of locations.
Specialized training in understanding older adults' mobility, preferences, and capabilities. He doesn't design for stereotypes — he designs for real people with real variations in ability.
Turning accessibility data and route assessments into useful, engaging content. He writes guides that actually help people decide if a path works for them.
The go-to authority on this particular location. He knows the seasonal variations, the practical routes, the challenges, and the hidden gems that make it special.
Education & Certification
Charles University in Prague
2011
Institute for Care and Elderly Studies, Brno
2013
Central Bohemian Region Parks Department
2011–2016
Czech Red Cross & European Accessibility Network
2015
Slowlivingworkshops s.r.o. | Content Lead
2019–Present
12km senior-friendly route documentation & analysis
2015
Work Philosophy
It's not about retrofitting ramps onto places that weren't designed with access in mind. Real accessibility means understanding a site from the ground up — literally. Where's the drainage? How does the terrain slope? What's the surface like in winter? These details matter because they're the difference between someone enjoying a walk and someone turning back halfway.
There's no single "senior traveler." A 65-year-old hiking enthusiast has different needs than an 80-year-old recovering from hip surgery. Both deserve access. That's why he documents routes with specific details — not just "easy" or "hard," but actual gradient percentages, surface types, rest points, and sight lines. People can make informed decisions about what works for them.
Preservation and access don't have to fight. You can respect a castle's history while making it genuinely usable for older visitors. It requires creative thinking and sometimes difficult choices, but it's absolutely possible. He's done it across dozens of protected sites.
Accessibility is ongoing. Routes change with seasons and weather. New paths get added. Maintenance affects accessibility. That's why his approach involves continuous assessment and documentation. Not a one-time audit, but real, living research that reflects how these places actually function.
Get to Know Him
Honestly, it was that volunteer work with the Czech Red Cross. You're leading a walking group through a park you've been to a hundred times, and suddenly you see it through different eyes. You notice the step nobody mentioned, the path that gets muddy, the bench that's too far from the next one. That shift in perspective — understanding that small design choices have real consequences for real people — that never left me.
It's genuinely special. The gardens are beautiful, historically significant, and genuinely manageable for older visitors — if you know which routes to take. When I first did the accessibility assessment in 2015, I realized nobody had systematically documented the senior-friendly options. There were 12 kilometers of good routes, but they weren't publicized or organized. That gap — between what was possible and what was known — became my focus.
That accessible means boring or that it requires completely separate experiences. Nope. A good, accessible route is good for everyone. Gradual slopes? They're nice whether you're 75 or 35. Clear signage? Everyone benefits. Thoughtful seating? Anybody might want to rest. When you design for accessibility, you're usually designing for better experiences across the board.
The focus shifted from just assessing sites to creating actual content that helps people make decisions. Now I'm writing guides, mapping routes in detail, documenting seasonal changes. It's more public-facing. You're not just producing data for other professionals — you're helping individual people figure out what they can actually do. That feels more impactful somehow.
The Upper Gardens at Průhonice, honestly. I initially thought they'd be too steep for most older visitors. But the actual paths curve around the slopes in a way that minimizes gradient. You can take it slow, enjoy the views, and it's totally doable. It just required understanding the actual terrain, not assuming.
We're expanding beyond Průhonice — looking at other parks and estates across Central Bohemia. I'm also working on seasonal guides because what's accessible in June looks very different in January. And there's potential for a mobile tool where you can filter routes by specific accessibility criteria. The field's still young. There's a lot more to document and share.
Featured Writing
May 14, 2026
A detailed guide to 12 kilometers of accessible, scenic pathways. Includes gradient information, surface types, rest areas, and seasonal considerations for senior visitors planning their visit.
May 10, 2026
How the gardens transform through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. What you'll see in each season, which routes work best, and how accessibility changes with the weather and terrain conditions.
May 7, 2026
Practical preparation tips for older adults planning park visits. From footwear and pacing to managing energy and building confidence, based on 16 years of working with diverse senior visitors.
May 4, 2026
How to build a regular outdoor practice that fits your abilities and interests. Weekly routines, seasonal adjustments, and how consistent visits deepen your connection with the landscape.
Václav's work focuses on making Prague's most beautiful outdoor spaces genuinely accessible for older adults. Dive into detailed route guides, seasonal highlights, and practical preparation tips.
