Athens to Get New Climate-Resilient Park in Votanikos

Photorealistic depiction of the new Votanikos park. Photo source: Athens Municipality.

The Athens City Council has recently approved plans for the creation of a new climate-resilient park in the Votanikos area.

The park, which will be located in the former industrial area of Elaionas, near the new Panathinaikos stadium, will cover an area of 60 acres and will be the largest urban park created in Athens in the last hundred years.

The park is designed to improve the microclimate of the area and to contribute to the reduction of the urban heat island phenomenon.

Photorealistic depiction of the new Votanikos park. Photo source: Athens Municipality.

It will feature 3,563 large evergreen and deciduous trees, 102,000 shrubs, 18,520 square meters of lawns, 1,560 square meters of Mediterranean meadow, 800 square meters of rain gardens and a 950 square meters pond. The park will also include an olive grove, nesting areas for urban birds, and ecological ponds.

The park is part of the Double Regeneration Project, which also includes the construction of the new Panathinaikos stadium in Votanikos. The project is seen as a major step forward in the regeneration of the Eleonas area and in the city’s efforts to adapt to the climate crisis.

Photorealistic depiction of the new Votanikos park. Photo source: Athens Municipality.

The Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis, said that the new park will “shield the city from the dangers of the climate crisis” and that it will “be a legacy to future generations of Athenians.”

The construction of the park is expected to start in 2024 and to be completed in 2025, according to Bakoyannis.

Here are some additional details about the Votanikos park:

Photorealistic depiction of the new Votanikos park. Photo source: Athens Municipality.

• The park will be designed to ensure appropriate microclimatic conditions, creating a cool natural environment in which visitors can enjoy their walk and relax in the city.
• Native plants of the Greek flora, Mediterranean shrubs, autonomous areas of natural regeneration, rain gardens at designated points for rainwater management, community crops, urban forests and green islands, a lake and several other water features will make up a park of environmental awareness and education for visitors.

Photorealistic depiction of the new Votanikos park. Photo source: Athens Municipality.

• Hills will be created in the park using rubble and aggregates from the project, contributing to the positive environmental footprint of the new green spaces and reducing the amount of transport needed to remove materials from the project site.
• The areas in which the central plazas and refreshment areas will be created will be minimal, with emphasis on the use of bioclimatic and environmentally friendly materials, characterized by both water permeability and a natural look.

The new park in Votanikos is a major step forward in the city’s efforts to adapt to the climate crisis and to create a more sustainable future for the Greek capital.