Thanks to a network of new green spaces, walkways, parks, and public areas, the city of Edessa, in central Macedonia, Greece, is enjoying a new connection to the Edesseus River.
A new waterfront for Edessa, Greece
- 08 October 2019
The project is very important for Edessa. It was designed with the aim of bringing visitors from the Frydi area on the edge of the cliff, which is the most popular place in Edessa, to the city centre – and they achieved it! It is a project that has offered great aesthetics to the city.
Because the Edesseus River cuts through the city via three distinct branches, it has always been seen as a dividing force. As a result, various parts of the city have become fragmented, with little connecting the various green spaces, neighbourhoods, residential areas, and business zones.
Seeing an opportunity to transform the river into the common thread that connects the city, this EU-funded project redesigned all the elements that fragmented the city. This included building new pedestrian bridges, revitalising misused and derelict public spaces, cleaning up river pollution, regenerating run-down green areas, and creating ecological and cultural corridors.
Making the river accessible
Serenaded by three branches of the Edesseus River and a surreal waterfall park, the Edessa has always been a city of water. However, despite the important role the river plays in the city’s landscape, only a fraction is readily accessible to citizens and tourists.
To change this, this project rejuvenated the river’s three channels, giving each channel its own theme. For example, Canal A is devoted to art and culture. Walkways were laid out in ways that promote the city’s cultural and artistic character. Along the canal one can now find a range of public art installations, and former empty lots have been transformed into public spaces. The themes of the other two canals are nature and history.
Another highlight is the refurbishment of the Park of Small Waterfalls, a popular green space for locals and tourists. The new design highlights the area’s connection to water and different areas touch on themes like, tranquility, and emotion. Likewise, Tsitsi Park, at the end of the river, was enhanced. Providing one of the best views in town, the project added new seating and viewing areas, and a small square for cultural events.
A green corridor
By creating a new river walk that connects the city centre with the waterfall park, revitalising all three branches of the river, and giving new life to old parks, this project created a new green urban corridor that benefits citizens, tourists, and businesses.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project "Rehabilitation of the river branches at the city of Edessa, Central Macedonia, Greece” is EUR 5 305 122, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 4 509 353 through the “Central Macedonia” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environment and resource efficiency”.