Leisure islands: the Île-de-France region wants to strengthen their attractiveness
The Île-de-France region is very attached to its leisure islands, which are spaces of nature, sport, relaxation and social ties and are the garden of those who do not. These breathing places have particularly suffered from the covid crisis. In 2024, some were hoisted to the rank of windows in the territory during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. In this dynamic, the question of their future is crucial: it is now a question of building the heritage.
To guarantee their attractiveness, their sustainability and their sustainable development, the Île-de-France Region has already invested more than 200 million euros since 2016. It has also started a vast transformation of their management mode through the “reinvent leisure islands” process.
It is in this context that the permanent commission of the regional council adopted, on July 9, 2025, a delegation of public service (DSP) for the management of the island of leisure in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, marking a structuring stage in the renewal of this strategic site located in the heart of the Yvelines. Following the withdrawal of the former members of the Mixed Management Syndicate (Department of Yvelines and Community of Agglomeration of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines), the Île-de-France region reaffirmed its desire to fully invest in the site. She thus launched a DSP procedure, awarded to the joint group composed of the SEM Île-de-France Loisirs, UCPA (Agent), Dalia SAS and Bluegreen European Holding. The delegate is committed to making the leisure island a flagship destination for leisure, sport and nature, respecting its role as “green lung” in the territory.
The project provides:
The development of more than 35 activities, aimed at an annual attendance of 900,000 visitors;
Rehabilitation of the existing offer (golf, equestrian center, nautical base, children’s games);
The creation of a renovated accommodation center, a leisure residential park (Eco Lodge 4*), a training center for sport professions, a national reference racket center, and an innovative space dedicated to cycling (velole);
The construction of new equipment accessible to all: City covered stadium, street workout, new play areas and picnic areas.
This project mobilizes a total investment amount of € 51.8 million, including € 16.9 million provided by the Île-de-France region over the duration of the public service delegation.
In addition, the permanent committee adopted the 2023 management report of the island of Leisure in Vaires. This report shows that this site continues to attract the public and to operate, despite a drop in attendance during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a difficult overall economic context. The region explores all the options to ensure the future of this site and preserve its social and high -level sport vocation. The Ile-de-France region will therefore notably seek the benefit of funding allocated as part of the inheritance of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, to contribute to the recovery of the Île-de-Loisir and ensure the future of this leading Olympic site!
