ThoseCity of Geneva
At the tip of the junction, the site of the future park is finally looming
The municipal council will start studying a credit request of 35 million francs. Start of the hoped for the end of 2026.
The tip of the junction, at the confluence of the Rhône and the Arve, where a new public park must be born.
Paolo Battiston
- The city of Geneva invests 35 million francs to create a public park at the junction.
- The project provides for several thematic islands with spaces for relaxation, gardening, and water access.
- The opening of the new park is hoped for 2028, but several obstacles must be taken before.
Impatiently expected by the neighborhood for more than fifteen years, the development of a park at the tip of the junction is beginning to take shape. Politically, at least. The Administrative Council filed a credit request of 35 million francs for the municipal council, which was to return it on Monday evening in committee in order to study it.
In recent years, the project has been the subject ofA tedious consultation process with associations and the inhabitants of the junction. A fairly innovative approach, but dotted by several episodes of tension, At the end of which the associations grouped under the aegis of the Pointe de la Junction forum ended up slamming the door, qualifying their role as “alibi”.
Concept of islands
Despite everything, the administrative advisor Frédérique Perler has managed to finalize a proposal in the last days of her mandate. It provides for a complete remodeling of the site. The willows path is intended to regain its promenade character. “Comfortable” access to water will be fitted out, more downstream compared to current installations. It will extend beyond the Kügler factory building.
It is from there and to the belvedere of the tip of the junction that the perimeter of the future park was defined. The equivalent of around 15,000 m², which will be divided into several committed “islands”. Each cuts down a different concept: “linen island” for those who wish to lounge, “garden island” to cultivate plantations, or even children’s water games. Finally, a terrace will be installed on the roof of the SIM siphon.
At first, there was talk of maintaining the old TPG cutlery, but this option had aroused strong criticism. Finally, only a quarter of their surface will be preserved. Enough to allow “the organization of different events away”.
On the side of the Arve, the path will be maintained. A riparian forest, probably inaccessible to the public, will be revived.
Additional credit requests
Several administrative elements must still be settled. The city will buy several plots which belong to the canton for an area of 20,000 m². The request for credit sheds light on negotiations. The municipal and cantonal authorities have agreed on a price of 60 francs per m². The city will thus pay nearly 1.3 million francs.
The municipality will also pay most of the depollution invoice (heavy metals have been identified on the ex-site of TPG). It is estimated at 1.8 million francs. The canton will participate up to 700,000 francs.
If these various amounts are included in the credit of 35 million francs, this is not the case with the rehabilitation of the canoe club, nor of those of construction of the nautical base. They will be subject to additional requests.
Member of the Pointe de la Junction Forum, Isabelle Toumi greets the deposit of this credit, while saying to herself “arrested” by certain articulated amounts. She also expresses her opposition to the night closure of the park and the hiring of a goalkeeper, planned at this stage.
Last summer for the Junction Halles
Frédérique Perler Party, the project is now in the hands of his successor at the head of the development. “Madame de Chastonay is at the start of the mandate and does not yet have a ready -made religion on all projects. First of all, she wishes to meet the associations concerned and, moreover, see how the commission’s debates take place, ”comments her personal collaborator, Marc Moulin.
A building permission request should be filed this summer. It will be conditioned on a positive vote of the municipal council when the project is submitted to it after its examination in committee, probably not before next winter. The objective is to start the site at the end of 2026. The “exploitation” is hoped for for spring 2028.
In the meantime, provisional facilities will be set up again. A return of urban sports is on the program. Cultural events are also planned. As to to the concept of chalets-restaurants set up by the baroquedisputed before even his beginnings and who has not met with the expected successit will end at the end of autumn.
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