If you are anything like me, you then giggle with joy at the news of the opening of some new park or any other type of a green urban space. Today is one of those giggle days as I write this piece while sitting under a giant maple tree overlooking the magnificent statue of Le Triomphe de la République, because Place de la Nation has re-opened to the public after two years of pedestrianization works.
The newly-renamed garden, Jardin Marianne, now expands to the space of 12 000 m2, which is the result of a road reduction from 8 to 4 lanes. Almost 90% of the land gained from the road removal has been replaced by the open spaces. Other surfaces feature a light-coloured coating to fight floor heat absorbtion.
Place de la Nation is one of the 7 public plazas that Paris plans to improve by increasing green spaces and reducing the presence of cars. The city’s mayor, Madame Anne Hidalgo, has set a goal of making the French capital more green and eco-friendly, while combatting the global climate crisis at the same time.
Paris is one of the world’s biggest and most important metropolises and to see it add green spaces is very refreshing. For more information on the 7-plazas project, click here.