Athens is turning old airport into Europe’s second-largest city park

An abandoned airport in Athens has been transformed into Europe's second-largest city park, known as Ellinikon Park. Spanning over 400 acres along the sea in a southern suburb, the park aims to provide a shaded haven for the city's inhabitants and combat the extreme heat that Athens is infamous for. As the second-largest urban park in Europe, it will also serve as a hub for flora with 30,000 trees and 3 million smaller plants, consisting of more than 520 species.

The park's design places great emphasis on sustainability, with a shared space ratio of over 60% and water features such as running channels, misting systems, and low-consumption basins. Moreover, smart irrigation and on-site water treatment facilities will ensure efficient water usage for the park's plants. Rainwater management and the restoration of natural flows using the Trachones stream will provide further flood-protection infrastructure.

Ellinikon Park is designed to be up to four degrees Celsius cooler than surrounding asphalt and concrete areas. The park's planners have meticulously considered various factors like air circulation, wind direction, evaporation speed, and Computational Fluid Dynamics to ensure optimal thermoregulation. The park will be adorned with Greek marbles and native stones, contributing to its harmonious blend with the Attic landscape.

Ellinikon Park surpasses the size of several iconic European parks, including London's Hyde Park and Berlin's Tiergarten, making it a significant addition to Athens' urban landscape. With its innovative design and sustainable features, the park promises to be a much-needed relief for Athens, which is no stranger to extreme heat. The park is scheduled to open to the public next year, with further renovations planned for 2030.