The new Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park was inaugurated in Thessaloniki, offering 340 acres of green space, remembrance, recreation, and culture to the public.
In the presence of government officials, representatives of local government, organizations, and hundreds of citizens, the inauguration of the new Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park in western Thessaloniki took place. The 340-acre</, which for decades served as a military camp and during the German occupation was the site of the sacrifice of 101 executed patriots, has now been transformed into a space for greenery, recreation, and collective memory.
The new park features more than 7,000 new trees and shrubs, two playgrounds, a dog park, two tennis courts, outdoor exercise equipment, benches, gazebos, and new fencing, while restoration work continues on historic buildings that will be repurposed in the coming years.
A place returning to its citizens
The mayor of Pavlos Melas, Dimitris Aslanidis, described today as a historic day for western Thessaloniki, emphasizing that a space that had remained closed for decades is now opening to the residents of Stavroupoli, Polichni, and Eukarpia.
As he noted, the park is not just a place for walking and recreation, but a place that connects the Thessaloniki of yesterday with the Thessaloniki of tomorrow. At the same time, he called on citizens to protect this new public asset from indifference and vandalism, emphasizing that every tree, bench, and path belongs to the community.
Mr. Aslanidis also noted that the inauguration concerns the first phase of the project, as new renovations of abandoned buildings and additional interventions will follow, which will reinforce the park’s character as a hub of culture and education.
Tzitzikostas and Skertsos – Investment in Western Thessaloniki
The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, described the project as proof of the power of cooperation between institutions and society, emphasizing that it transforms an isolated area into a free space for greenery and culture.
He stressed that the project is still in its early stages, as further interventions and funding will be required for it to evolve into a modern European metropolitan park. At the same time, he thanked Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the personal interest he has shown in its implementation and emphasized that the western side of the city deserves more infrastructure and investment.
For his part, Minister of State Akis Skertsos described western Thessaloniki a “major challenge” for the government, emphasizing that the park is part of a broader plan for interventions in sectors such as the environment, health, education, transportation, and culture.
He also mentioned the creation of the new cancer hospital at the Karatasio military camp, the redevelopment of the former FIX, the Holocaust Museum, the new schools through public-private partnerships, and the new peri-urban forest of Eukarpia, arguing that the region is at the center of a comprehensive development strategy.
New projects and the Museum of Refugee Hellenism
The regional governor of Central Macedonia, Athina Aidona, described today as a historic day for all of Thessaloniki, noting that the Region will continue to support the project.
As she announced, through the new NSRF, 7.7 million euros are being allocated to the creation of the Museum of Refugee Hellenism, which will further enhance the cultural and historical character of the park.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic planting of an “eternal olive tree” by the Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis Varnavas, Akis Skertzos, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Athina Aidona, and Dimitris Aslanidis, as a message of the project’s timelessness and continuity.
The opening ceremony was attended by ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament, representatives of local government, the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and a large number of citizens, marking the official handover of Thessaloniki’s first Metropolitan Park to the community.
