A new green lung for Nice: the Grand Parc de la Plaine du Var inaugurated

Nice inaugurated on Saturday, September 27, the Grand Parc de la Plaine du Var, a new green space set to become a symbol of the city’s environmental renewal. The official opening, celebrated with free family-friendly activities and a traditional Niçoise buffet, attracted a large number of visitors.

The public was able to preview the first completed section within the Eco Vallée: 1.5 hectares including a panoramic viewpoint, five fitness stations, a dog agility area, picnic spots, an olive grove, and a lavender field. Children enjoyed inflatable games and gardening workshops.

A project of environmental regeneration

The Grand Parc is part of the Opération d’Intérêt National (OIN) and fully integrated into the ZAC Parc Méridia, developed by EPA Nice Écovallée. Its goal is ambitious: to return to nature and residents an area long covered by impermeable surfaces, turning it into a vast green lung on the western side of the city.

Once completed, the park will cover 30 hectares, including 20 hectares of urban green space and eco-park and 10 hectares devoted to urban and productive agriculture. The southern area will host spaces for sport and leisure, while the northern section will feature urban gardens and farmland, alongside the Municipal Horticultural Production Center and a Metropolitan Agricultural Incubator for young farmers and start-ups.

A model of sustainability

The project enhances the region’s agricultural heritage and Mediterranean vegetation, while also becoming a living laboratory for water management, through the restoration of the canal des arrosants, now redesigned as an ecological corridor.

The figures are clear: 20 hectares of new vegetation, 60% of surfaces de-sealed, and an estimated 112.5 tons of CO₂ saved per year.

With the Grand Parc de la Plaine du Var, Nice has not only gained a new park but also a tangible symbol of a sustainable city, mindful of environmental challenges and future generations.