More green space downtown as Eleftherias Park reopens
Greenery didn’t get all the attention it deserved in the sprucing-up that preceded the Olympic Games, but the new look of the long-neglected Eleftherias Park is some consolation. A large part of the park was out of commission during work on building the new underground wing of the Athens Concert Hall. The prolonged duration of the construction period led to concerns that the park might never be restored to its original state, and the felling of trees only heightened the anxiety. Though the park has not yet been handed over in its entirety, first impressions are reassuring. The lawn has been restored as has the area surrounding the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos. New trees have been planted to the left of the statue, while seasonal flowers and various types of plants make a striking multicolored floral carpet to its right and rear. More than 200 trees and shrubs representing 20 species have been planted. Plant selection and planting times are under the supervision of Professor Ioannis Chronopoulos of the Athens Agricultural University. The park is being extended behind the Athens Concert Hall to the site of a demolished apartment block and an outdoor car park. In the meantime, the link between the Athens Concert Hall and the nearby metro station is approaching completion.