The formerly abandoned plot of land at 66 Halkidiki Street, in the area of the Fifth Municipal Community, was transformed into an oasis of greenery and recreation. This site, which until recently presented a very ugly picture, has been developed and transformed into the first pocket park assigned by the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The pocket park at 66 Chalkidiki Street, which was created by the Municipality of Thessaloniki with a donation from P&G and the cooperation of the Earth Organization, was handed over this morning (21/02) in the presence of the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, the Deputy Mayor of the Environment, Erotokritos Theotokatou, and the Deputy Mayor of Technical Works and Sustainable Mobility, Efraim Kyrizidis.
“We are handing over an oasis to an overburdened neighbourhood”, said Mr. Zervas, recalling that the pocket park is located in an area where the Municipality of Thessaloniki is implementing a series of interventions as part of its wider programme for extensive regeneration of neighbourhoods.
“A neighbourhood with dense construction and many residents is being redeveloped, it is becoming better”, Mr Zervas pointed out, expressing his confidence that the pocket park delivered today will be embraced by the whole neighbourhood. “Thessaloniki is changing. It is up to each one of us to make our city better, more friendly,” the Mayor of Thessaloniki noted, adding that new pocket parks will soon be created, while additional regeneration interventions in neighbourhoods will follow, with the next one scheduled to be located in the Toumba area.
Corina Lazari, Corporate Communications Manager of P&G Greece, expressed her delight at the delivery of the first pocket park in Thessaloniki. “It is important for us to cooperate with both the neighborhood and the municipality so that this park can be preserved and made more beautiful. Our goal is to create such places that have multiple benefits for the neighborhoods,” Ms. Lazari noted.
“As a civil society organization we serve the principles of circular economy. We make sure that everything we do is not just green, but that it is sustainable and creates a positive impact in every aspect,” Alexis Galinos, Director General of the Earth Organization, stressed for his part, adding: “A key part of our work, in addition to improving on a practical level the quality of life of residents and enhancing the safety and attractiveness of the area, is precisely to work with the people of the neighbourhood, with priority given to children and the most vulnerable groups. Our project is to help people reconnect with nature and assist in socialisation and relationship building.”
According to Konstantinos Tatsis, representative of Topiodomi, the company that designed and constructed the project, around 350 bushes and trees were placed in the area, while all the materials used are either natural or recyclable. Autonomous photovoltaic lights, a smart watering system, seating, bird nests as well as animal feeders and watering troughs were installed in the pocket park.