The Germasoyia Municipality has embarked on a race in three directions to be in position to announce in time the first phase of the Amathos river linear park of, which extends from the sea to the Medieval bridge, and to receive the funding of €2,2 million from the European Union. According to Mayor Kyriakos Xydias, the first direction concerns securing Planning Approval from the Town Planning Authority, with which there has already been contact, and "views the design positively and it seems that there is a willingness to issue [the necessary permit] soon".
The 2nd direction concerns the European Programmes Service of the Interior Ministry, which carries out quality control of the projects that are earmarked for funding, with which contacts are also progressing positively. The 3rd direction concerns the Treasury which should issue a certificate of documents compatibility, which is required for the project to qualify for funding by a European Program.
The aim of the local authority is to start work on the 1st phase of the park in early 2024. During a recent presentation of the designs by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the University of Cyprus, headed by Dr. Loukas Demetriou, it was stressed that the objectives of the project are the promotion of the linear park into an ecological corridor, focusing on the ecology of water and riparian coasts, as well as the development of flood protection works that will reduce the likelihood of such phenomena during overflows; as well as the enrichment of vegetation and the upgrading of the landscape, while creating a more pleasant microclimate in the vicinity. It also provides for the inclusion of sports, exercise and cultural structures that will promote personal health, social consciousness and cohesion, as well as the increase of the financial resources of the Municipality and its residents, thanks to an increased number of people who are expected to make use of the facilities.
Significantly, this will be the first energy-autonomous linear park in Cyprus and the designers' vision is for it to become a model and receive certifications from international organizations. In its full development, it will include a water museum, a pollination park with aromatic plants, an open-air market, a sensory park with facilities for disabled people, and even organized crops for rent. The parking area on the riverbed will be landscaped with environmentally friendly materials, while the medieval bridge will be illuminated to provide a backdrop for amphitheaters on both sides. The lighting along the entire length of the Linear Park will be innovative and respect the flora and fauna of the area. The Park will be monitored by cameras 24 hours a day for security purposes and to avoid incidents of vandalism.
