Athens to Add 14 New Playgrounds in 2025, Aiming to Meet European Standards

Photo source: Athens Municipality

The Municipality of Athens plans to add 14 new playgrounds in 2025 as part of an initiative to meet the European standard of one playground per 2,000 residents, according to the city’s mayor, Haris Doukas.

Speaking at the inauguration of a newly upgraded playground in the Ano Patissia neighborhood, Mayor Doukas emphasized that play is a fundamental right for all children, not a luxury. He highlighted that currently, Athens has only one playground per 8,000 residents, significantly below the European average.

The Ano Patissia playground renovation is part of the “Visa for Athens” program, launched in 2021 to support urban regeneration initiatives aimed at preserving the city’s beauty for future generations. The project for the Ano Patissia playground renovation was a collaborative effort between Visa and the Municipality of Athens.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas (right). Photo source: Athens Municipality

“Through our partnership with Visa, we’ve been able to renovate two playgrounds and have implemented an extensive maintenance program for 13 more since the start of 2024,” said Mayor Doukas. “Additionally, we are currently upgrading 11 more playgrounds and plan to introduce 14 new ones next year.”

Sevi Vassileva, General Director of Visa for Greece, Cyprus, Malta, and Israel, affirmed that the Visa for Athens program will continue to support the city’s efforts to meet residents’ needs.

This year’s Visa for Athens projects also include upgrades to playgrounds at six Athens schools and a full renovation of a playground in the Gyzi neighborhood.

Visa Secretary General Sevi Vassileva, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas with OPANDA Eleni Zontirou. Photo source: Athens Municipality

The 13 playgrounds undergoing maintenance this year were managed by the Culture, Sports, and Youth Organization of the Municipality of Athens.

“These projects demonstrate the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors, and show what can be achieved when we all work together for the common good,” said Eleni Zontirou, president of the organization.

She also highlighted that the new Ano Patissia playground was developed according to the highest safety standards, underscoring Athens’ commitment to investing in its future.