The Goken Park was constructed and delivered to the Limassol citizens, last May. It’s located in the westernmost district of Limassol, Zakaki district, at a distance of 6.5km from Limassol’s Municipal Garden and the city center. The target for the park is to convert the area into an open public space for social gatherings and pleasure, to constitute a major green lung for the city of Limassol, and also, shortly to connect with other future projects with similar philosophy.

The park on Goken Street is now the second biggest green area/park in Limassol. The transformation of an unexploited public space with an area of almost 10,000 sqm into the second green lung of the city it’s a fact. The choice to locate this park in a specific district was taken in the context of upgrading the western districts of the city which are the most “forgotten” districts concerning the implementation of that kind of projects.

The climate change and the high temperatures, combined with the massive population growth in the last few years, created the need for more public places, places of pleasure, green areas, public playgrounds, public sports areas, open social gatherings, and relaxation areas. Based on those needs, the Limassol Municipal decided to upgrade the specific district with the construction of Goken Park.

The park as a reference point for the western district of the city, offers the possibility of relaxing, entertaining, social gathering, environmental degradation, and alternative activities. The design of the park is based on human needs either through the many activities that can be offered in the free spaces or the designed spaces, either through the variety of environmental benefits that the park offers in the district through the large green areas.

The park is a central spot of recreation and culture. At the center of the park a central circular skate park is located and on its perimeter are located an open gymnasium, an open theatre whose wall behind the stage is constructed of “rammed earth”, playgrounds with laid gravel floors, a reflexology path, gathering spaces with sitting areas made by boulders sunk into the ground, ping pong tables and an observatory. Also, a lighting system, a rainwater collection system, and an irrigation system were installed. All the paths and the aisles inside the park were constructed either with a stable earthy floor, or with perforated concrete blocks to allow the growth between the concrete gaps.

The green areas consist of a tree dense vegetation (218 trees), bushes (10.607 bushes), grass fields (1.505sqm), and climbing plants with an intense color range. The design was based on the use of alternative, sustainable, and natural materials in order to increase the biodiversity of the district, the pollination of the plants, to attract more kinds of birds and also to reduce the city temperature at least at the specific district.

The project was designed by the team of ANBAUatelier (Marina Lianou and Alexandros Christofinis) and Stelios Lakkotripis.

The construction of the park cost about €2.300.000 and it was financed by the European Union through Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021 – 2027”, Cyprus Government and Limassol Municipality.