On Friday, 16 May, the European Union said it's going to spend over €4.4 million on restoring and developing a linear park along the Pedieos River in Nicosia, where the Turkish-Cypriot community lives.
The idea is to create a peaceful, sustainable space where city dwellers can walk, cycle, enjoy nature and meet freely, no matter what their community is.
The plan is to add new green areas for people to enjoy, protect and restore the natural ecosystem of the Pedieos River, and reduce the risks of flooding and erosion. We'll be paying special attention to preserving the local plants and animals. The project will use sustainable materials, green paths and elevated walkways, so as to minimise interference with the natural landscape.
With this project, we want to show how the Pediejes River can be used as an example of new, sustainable and environmentally friendly urban development,' said Nicola De Michelis of the European Commission.
He said that the EU is still backing projects to improve quality of life, develop green spaces and strengthen ties between Cypriot communities. The plan is that this will help with both ecological restoration and social cohesion. The park's going to be a place where people can come together to do cultural and recreational activities, and it'll be a space for dialogue, understanding and reconciliation.
The first phase of works is due to be finished by November 2025, and the project will be fully completed in September 2027. The Municipality of Nicosia will sort out the connection to the existing part of the Pedieos Linear Park in the south, along the UN demarcation line.
The project is part of a programme that aims to promote economic development, improve communication between communities and prepare for the future integration of EU legislation throughout Cyprus. Renewing and expanding the linear park is about more than just investing in infrastructure. It's an investment in peace, sustainable development and a united future for all Cypriots,' Michelis emphasised.
Just to let you know, the southern part of the park has been under renovation since October 2024. We decided to divide the renovation process into two phases.
So, the plan is to build 14 new bridges along the river, which should make it easier for people to get around on foot or by bike. Also, they're going to be renewing the bike lanes here, putting in a playground, setting up an area for dog walking and creating places for recreation and active pastimes. There'll be containers for separate waste collection every 400 metres in the park. We're going to change the lighting system in the park to LED and LEM (lighting management system). Also, we're going to set up a crisis management centre in the park, which will be based in the SPE Strovolos building. You can get in touch with the crisis management centre 24/7. People can get in touch with the centre in case of crime, injuries, floods or fires.