Athens transforms old airport into vast European park

In Athens, Greece, authorities are converting the former Ellinikon International Airport into one of Europe’s largest parks. The project will incorporate over 30,000 trees and more than 3 million plants across approximately 2 million square meters of green space.

For decades, the airport grounds were covered in asphalt and concrete, but planners now aim to create a large green area near the sea designed to remain habitable during extreme heat.

The Ellinikon Park project intends to cover over 70% of the area with vegetation and create a network of pathways. Simulations predict these “cool routes” will be up to 4°C cooler than surrounding areas, addressing the increasing intensity, frequency, and duration of heat waves in Athens. Researchers have found that urban green spaces can reduce temperatures by 1 to 7°C, depending on factors like climate and tree density, lending support to the park’s goals. The project also prioritises water conservation.

A treatment plant will produce up to 7,000 cubic meters of non-potable water daily for irrigation and maintenance, alongside a 10,000 cubic meter cistern. Rainwater will also be collected using rain gardens, drainage areas, and a restored stream. The former Olympic canoe and kayak basin will become a 1.5-hectare lake to store water for droughts and fires.

Approximately 28,700 square meters of concrete from the airport’s runways and aprons will be reused in the park’s construction, alongside some historical structures including a terminal designed by Eero Saarinen. While the entire former airport site will not be parkland. It will also include housing, commercial buildings, and sports facilities, a first section of the park opened in 2021 and the complete metropolitan park is expected between 2027 and 2028.