The first section of a riverside park has opened in Petržalka. The city now hopes to restore the natural beaches that once lined the river near Apollo Bridge.
A long-neglected stretch of the Danube riverbank in Petržalka has reopened as a public park, marking the first step in a plan to transform more than 20 kilometres of Bratislava’s waterfront and eventually bring natural beaches back to the city.
“I believe the next stages will move towards Apollo Bridge, where we would very much like to restore the beaches that used to be there. It is more financially demanding, but we will look for ways to bring back the life this unique space once had,” Deputy Mayor Jakub Mrva said, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
The approximately 400-metre stretch east of the Old Bridge has been transformed into Staré Lido Riverside Park. Once cluttered with rubbish, pipes and other discarded objects, it now offers natural paths, benches, play features, fire pits and views across the Danube.
The park is the first completed section of the planned Bratislava Danube Park, which is expected to extend for more than 20 kilometres and cover over 4,000 hectares.
