€5.3m Pattichion Park overhaul completed after months of controversy

The redevelopment of Pattichion Park has been completed and handed over to Larnaca Municipality, bringing to an end a project that sparked strong public opposition over the scale of construction in an area forming part of the Natura network next to the protected Larnaca Salt Lake wetland. Work on Larnaca’s largest park was completed around eight months behind schedule, a delay that was considered justified after restrictions were imposed during the summer months because of the risk of fires. Construction began on 23 October 2023 by Miltiades Neophytou Civil Engineering Constructors & Developers Ltd, with a budget of €5.3 million. The project was co-financed by the European Union under the THALIA 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy Programme. It has been one of Larnaca’s most debated projects in recent years. Changes were made to the original plans in an attempt to address public objections, although some residents continue to argue that the intervention should have been considerably more limited. Plans for a skatepark, sports courts and a car park in the Faneromeni area were dropped. It was also decided that environmentally friendly materials would be used on all pedestrian paths. The changes were submitted to the Environmental Authority, which issued a positive opinion in March 2024. New bridge, viewing points and leisure areas Phileleftheros visited Pattichion Park to record the completed works. The redevelopment covers a large section of the park and includes a substantial elevated bridge, viewing points, recreation areas, a children’s playground, a botanical garden and routes for walking and cycling. Aromatic plants have already been planted in the botanical garden, while a considerable number of trees will be added at a later stage. A large restaurant has also been built, with a rooftop viewing area overlooking the salt lake. Other additions include a picnic area beside a small lake and bridge, as well as a dog park. Entrances to the park have been upgraded, along with the area surrounding Patticheio Amphitheatre, while street furniture and lighting have also been replaced. Visitors will be able to exercise at an outdoor gym, attend cultural events and use the viewing points overlooking the salt lake and surrounding landscape. The park is accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities. According to Larnaca Municipality, controlled and limited vehicle access will be permitted to serve Pattichion Amphitheatre, including for stage equipment and supplies. The positives and negatives of the new park Interventions in areas with such extensive greenery should generally be more restrained, particularly when carried out within the Natura network. Among the negative aspects of the project are the creation of a car park among trees near the entrance to the park and the large scale of the restaurant. Another mistake, which Larnaca Municipality has said will be corrected, involved the planting of species that do not comply with the environmental opinion or with plans requiring the use of appropriate native vegetation. Among those planted were banana trees. Following objections, it was decided that unsuitable plants would be moved to other parts of the city and replaced with appropriate native species, in line with Forestry Department guidance and the conditions of the environmental approval. The plants will be moved when weather conditions allow, Phileleftheros was told, as transplanting them under current conditions would destroy them. Another significant negative is the state of cleanliness in parts of the park, with rubbish discarded at a number of locations. Despite the criticism directed at the large pedestrian bridge and the salt lake viewing points, they remain striking features of the redevelopment and are likely to offer visitors a different experience of the park. The children’s playground, picnic area, lake and botanical garden are also among the positive additions. Whatever one’s view of the project, the new facilities are expected to attract more visitors to what had until now been one of Larnaca’s lesser-known attractions and its largest green space. The infrastructure is designed to encourage visits by families, people walking their dogs, people with disabilities and tourists, who will be able to enjoy panoramic views across the salt lakes, one of the most striking natural areas in Larnaca and Cyprus. Mayor: More than 100 trees to be planted “The project has been handed over. There are some details left and the planting, which we will carry out when weather conditions allow. We are happy because a very beautiful project has been completed and residents will be able to enjoy it more,” Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras told Phileleftheros. He also said he hoped “the project will also help protect the salt lake” by discouraging people from walking through it during the summer months. Vyras said more than 100 pine and cypress trees would be planted in the park. Tenders have meanwhile been invited for the operation of the café and restaurant, which is expected to open by the end of the year.