Greeks Not Happy with Green Space Quality Says WWF App

Greeks are not happy with the quantity and quality of green spaces countrywide, according to WWF Greece’s GreenSpaces application with the majority of users giving a 6.1 rating out of 10.

WWF’s free GreenSpaces application launched last year allows users to identify and then pin green spots around town onto an online map, rate and write reviews, comment on what’s good, what’s bad and what needs to be done. By marking these nature spots, users are helping create one of the most integrated interactive urban spaces maps countrywide.

To date, more than 9,000 citizens have pinned and rated 1,700 green spaces in 126 cities and towns across Greece. Of the 1,700 sites reviewed, 451 spaces received lower than a score of 5. Athens came in first with the worst score for its parks and green spaces, followed by Thessaloniki, Pallini, Peristeri, Kalamaria and Glyfada. Indicatively, Athens largest park, the Pedion tou Areos scored 5 out of 10.

On a brighter note, 261 green spaces received ‘thumbs up’ among them the Stavros Niarchos Park at the SNFCC in Kallithea, Oinoi Park in Orestiada, Asyrmatos Park at Agios Dimitrios, Attica, and Pafsilypo Park in Karditsa.

Green spaces and parks receiving overall better scores were in Kalamata (7.8), Petroupoli (7.7), Ilion (7.7), Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni (7.5), Tripoli (7.4), Filothei–Psychico (7.3) and Lykovrysi–Pefki (7.2). The lowest rating meanwhile went to Kassandra (3.6), Thermi (4.3), Rethymno, Crete (4.7), Larissa (4.8) and Zografou (4.8).

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Park

“WWF GreenSpaces is the people’s voice with regard to the green spaces in their city. Their view, as documented via the application, indicates that municipal authorities can do much more to provide a better environment for their citizens… We therefore call on municipal authorities to examine the findings and take immediate action for more and improved green spaces,” said Achilleas Plitharas, environmental awareness officer at WWF Greece.