What I can see

This 470-acre park is all that remains of the reforestation efforts that were carried out in the area at the beginning of the 20th century. Massive fires followed, which coincided with the refugee housing crisis of 1922, and refugee settlements were established in the area. The park is dominated by the Aleppo pine, cypresses, carob trees, plane trees, eucalyptus trees, while there are also various flowers and water-loving plants around the central lake. In addition, it is home to a rich birdlife, such as goldfinches, finches, robins, owls and dozens of other species. There is also no shortage of mammals (e.g. bats), reptiles (e.g. various species of lizards) and the characteristic green toad. With the exception of the central lake with the small mill, the rest of the park maintains its natural terrain and human intervention is mainly limited to paths, which are suitable for walking or running. Unfortunately, the park’s maintenance is often problematic, as a result of which we can often witness dead trees and garbage in the currently empty small lakes.

What I can't see

During World War II, most of the trees were cut so that the residents could keep themselves warm. The football field of a well-known football team had already been built in the area of ​​the park when a dictatorship law (1970) would give permission for another 27 acres for its development. This law was annulled with the fall of the regime. The football field suffered serious damage in the 1999 earthquake and was demolished in 2003. In violation of the law, regarding the park’s protection, the new football field that was built between 2017 and 2022, occupied another 6 acres of the park, a matter for which the municipality of Nea Philadelfia- Nea Chalkidona and residents appealed to the courts, but in the end, they were not vindicated.

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