Tritsis Park: An abandoned green “breather”
A huge green park is left unused, the Environmental Awareness "Antonis Tritsis" is now deserted.
A grand plan that went wrong could have been the title of the park. A vast area of 1,150 m², which everyday hosts hundreds of citizens of Athens, "sinks" in abandonment and obsolescence due to limited funding. It survives only because of some volunteers and a few workers, but its trademark is garbage in the lakes. What went wrong? Newsbomb.gr went to the park to record the picture of this rare treasure of vegetation in west of Athens.
Melancholic paradise
The park, which extends between the municipalities of Ilion and Agioi Anargyroi-Kamatero, contains six ponds and many deciduous, coniferous trees, as shrubs. Without a second glance, the signs of neglect are obvious from the park entrance, whose iron constructions are worn in many places, thus present a daunting picture. "The existence of the liquid element in a large area of the Park, both in the form of the six ponds and in the artificial channel, which ensures the flow of water between the lakes and recycling, making it a truly rare natural treasure beauty" is mentioned in the site of the park, but the natural beauty now has trash floating within it.
Today, the waters of the lake, filled with all sorts of junk, stay stagnant, muddy and polluted. The ducks are left trying to find food in dirty water and the fish that live there have dwindled. The buildings of the park are also a big problem, as they are now completely abandoned and infrastructure is damaged and poorly maintained. Several structures are traps for young children that visit with their parents, as many families still use the Park as unique chance for a walk. The imperfection of the road, which has collapsed in many places, makes it difficult even for cyclists. Nails sticking to metal structures are a trap for young children.
Brochures for actions occasionally in the park are lying down.
The reeds are a constant problem for the park, as they grow rapidly and there isn't an adequate staff to pamper.
However, despite the abandonment, the park, even in this state, continues to host dozens of events for children and adults, since behind the heartbreaking image, a real gem hides.
History
The area of the park was royal property from 1848 until 1863, the time when in the site the Gothic "Tower Queen" was constructed. The projects for a model ecological park started in the early 90s, with funding from the Local Government and the Ministry. A series of ponds was formed, which are a particular ecosystem and an outdoor theater. The damaged green was restored and an infrastructure for water supply, lighting and security space was created. The management of the park operator was assigned with the supervision of the Ministry.
