Municipality of Athens the 19 “green” renovations of August

"We are building a sustainable city for the coming years", mayor Kostas Bakoyannis noted

At an intensive pace – which continued into August – the Municipality of Athens is implementing the large program of regeneration and revitalization of all the city’s green spaces. And as the relevant announcement states “new trees and plants offer precious oxygen, but also color in central squares, groves, parks, pedestrian streets and median strips, reforming the 129 neighborhoods of Athens day by day”.

Targeted interventions

“We augment the city with greenery and therefore with shade and precious oxygen. Athens is a city with very few square meters of green space per inhabitant. To the extent that it is within our control, that is changing. We do it purposefully and with a plan. The latest “green” renovations are part of an integrated design, showing our vision to “build” a sustainable city for the years to come. With daily small scale, but high value, projects we will continue to ensure the quality of life of Athenians”, Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakoyannis, pointed out in his statement.

Proper use of water

The green regeneration program is implemented based on detailed planning, which above all ensures the correct use and consumption of water, through the upgrading and full automation of the irrigation system. At the same time, damage is repaired, the necessary earthworks are carried out, cobblestones and other hard surfaces are replaced and urban equipment is “revitalized” (outdoor seating areas, railings, etc.).

The 19 neighborhoods

It is indicative that in August, a total of 19 such new green renewals were completed in densely built neighborhoods, such as Kypseli, Neapoli, Goudi, Neos Kosmos, Pagrati, Metaxourgeio, Botanikos, Patisia, Gyzi and Ampelokipoi. Specifically, the squares of Asklipiou, Kotzia, Avdi, Fleming, Laou, Papadiamanti, Amphitritis, Agios Thomas, Hippocrates, Agios Sostis and Gyzi, the pedestrian streets of Pytheos, Ag. Zonis and Fokionos Negri, Lambraki Hill, S. Patsis, Durgouti, Pyrla and Dagli, were redesigned according to the principles of sustainability and are now modern urban green and recreational spaces with significant environmental and functional benefits for the city, residents and visitors.

The works, which were carried out under the supervision of the Directorate of Greenery and Urban Fauna of the Municipality of Athens, included the planting of new trees, thousands of seasonal plants and shrubs, as well as the laying of turf in the green spaces.

At the same time, in the same period, maintenance work was carried out on the median strips on Bousgou – Alexandras, Kalliroi – Theofilopoulos and Katehaki streets.

The Deputy Mayor for Climate Change and Greening of the Municipality of Athens, Christos Tedomas, emphasized: “The better preparation of the city in the face of climate change, as well as the management and expansion of greenery, are priorities for the Municipality of Athens. We are working methodically to increase the square meters of greenery per inhabitant.”

It is noted that the renovation works included, in addition to the planting of trees and Mediterranean plants, enrichment of the soil with soil improvers, installation of turf, where there was a need, and upgrading of the irrigation system.