The village of Farmakas in the Nicosia district celebrated the official opening of a new children’s playground, attended by Cyprus Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Ioannou and other senior officials.
European-Standard Play Area
The €65,000 project was largely funded by the Nicosia Municipality, with 10% contributed by the village administration. Ioannou described the new playground as “an investment in children and the country’s future.”
The project features:
- Safe, shock-absorbing flooring,
- Modern play equipment, including facilities for children with disabilities,
- Landscaping and upgrades to the surrounding area.
The minister emphasized that this is not a one-time initiative, but rather the fulfillment of commitments made less than a year ago. According to him, such facilities should become the standard for all rural areas of Cyprus.
Renovations Transforming Local Communities
Farmakas is not the only community undergoing revitalization. The village recently completed a major renovation of its central square, costing €1.4 million, most of which was funded by the state.
This year, the Ministry of the Interior has also allocated an additional €35,000 to support local initiatives and infrastructure projects.
Ioannou explained that the government is moving toward a comprehensive development strategy for mountain and border regions, focusing on modernizing public squares, markets, and creating underground parking spaces.
For example:
- In Gourri, a new square with a market and parking area valued at €1.5 million is nearly complete.
- In Kampi, a €1.9 million project to renovate the village center is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Attracting Young Families — Strategic Goal
The Ministry is actively implementing a housing program to revitalize mountain, remote, and sparsely populated areas, and Farmakas is part of this plan.
The main goal is to encourage young people and families to return to the countryside, stop population decline, and breathe new life into these regions.
Ioannou noted that Cyprus is no longer focusing solely on coastal resorts — the revival of mountain communities has become an essential part of the country’s long-term sustainable development strategy.