For me, Pszczyna holds a dual significance – past-oriented and private as well as future-oriented and public. It is a land of my childhood, but more importantly, it is a hub that can become a European laboratory for small-town dynamics. I approach its environmental protection, urban management, tourism, culture, and demographics in a broader context to extract common features, not just specifics. From this perspective, I describe Pszczyna as a place where diverse ideas to enhance small-town development and community functioning can be discussed, tested, and researched. It’s a platform where ideas can inspire people living in places with similar characteristics or scale, motivating them to take their own initiatives for change.