The Ellinikon Park Takes Shape as a Landmark Green Infrastructure Project for Athens

The Metropolitan Park at The Ellinikon is one of the largest components of the broader redevelopment project currently underway at the site of the former airport. A new study by 1830 Lab on behalf of LAMDA Development, titled “How Difficult Can It Be?”, seeks to illustrate the scale and key features of the project through numbers. From the park’s size and landscaping to its entrances, environmental interventions, and the artificial lake planned for the area, the study highlights ten facts that provide a clearer picture of the project’s overall scale.

• A 2,000-acre park – or 2,600 acres including surrounding green spaces

According to the study, the Metropolitan Park will cover an area of 2,000 acres (approximately 200 hectares). Including neighboring green areas that are also being developed as part of the Ελληνικό project, the total green space will reach 2,600 acres.

• Larger than well-known parks in Athens and abroad

The same study compares the park’s size with several well-known landmarks: the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center covers 210 acres, Pedion tou Areos 277 acres, the National Garden of Athens together with Zappeion totals 285 acres, Mount Lycabettus covers 416 acres, and Philopappos Hill reaches 700 acres. Even Hyde Park spans 1,376 acres.

• More than 32,000 trees are planned

According to the study, the first phase of development alone includes the planting of 16,520 trees. Once the project is fully completed, the total number of trees is expected to exceed 32,000.

• Elliniko will have more trees than Central Park

The study notes that the National Garden of Athens contains around 7,000 trees, while Central Park has approximately 18,000. The new park at Ελληνικό is expected to surpass both in total number of trees

• Around 3.3 million plants will be planted overall

Beyond the trees, the study provides for approximately 2.65 million aromatic shrubs and a total of around 3.3 million plants across the entire site.

• 70% of the vegetation will be able to survive with limited irrigation

According to the study, mainly Mediterranean plant species were selected, with the aim that around 70% of the vegetation will be able to survive even without systematic watering.

• More than 60,000 tons of soil have already been remediated

The research states that, by the time the study was completed, more than 60,000 tons of contaminated soil and around 65,000 cubic meters of groundwater had already been cleaned. In parallel, 31 fuel tanks and underground pipelines stretching approximately 5.5 kilometers were removed.

• Around 3,000 large trees were found on the site

According to the same study, approximately 3,000 large trees were identified across the former airport site and the coastal area of Agios Kosmas. Part of them is being preserved or transplanted in order to be reintegrated into the project.

• The park will feature 21 entrances and a 2.7-kilometer central boulevard

The study notes that the Metropolitan Park will include 21 entrances connecting it with the surrounding municipalities, while at its center a major 2.7-kilometer pedestrian boulevard will be developed, featuring a cycling lane, tram line, and green spaces.

• A 21-acre lake at the heart of the project

According to the study, the project includes the creation of an artificial lake covering 21 acres, with a depth of up to 3.5 meters. The lake will feature small islands, walking routes, an observation point, and recreational areas.

Beyond the project’s scale, the research conducted by 1830 Lab for LAMDA Development also highlights another key aspect: the Metropolitan Park is being approached as a long-term urban infrastructure project rather than simply a new green space. In fact, the study refers to a planning horizon extending up to 1,000 years.

For more details and the complete article in Greek, click here