a consultation to renovate the Jardin des Doms
30 meters above the Rhône, offering a panorama of the Palais des Papes, the old town, the plain and Mont-Ventoux, the Doms garden is an emblem of Avignon. Popular with tourists, families, young people – some of whom we see experiencing their first love affairs there – or the oldest, this park” a need for historical renovation, renaturation », Estimates the mayor (PS) Cécile Helle. To discuss it, the City is organizing a consultation this Tuesday evening*, with one objective: “ Restore the main features of the historical drawing by the landscape gardener Barillet-Deschamps [auteur notamment à Paris des Jardins du Luxembourg, du Bois de Boulogne ou encore des parcs des Buttes Chaumont, Ndlr] while responding to contemporary uses. »
Behind these somewhat vague terms, we must see a greater place given to nature and to waterproofing to create an island of additional freshness. All the heritage elements will be restored (cave, pond, fountain) in this garden designed in 1860 and listed since 1933, which also houses a restaurant-bar.
“It’s a park that
suffering ”
“ Contrary to the image it may convey, it is a park that has suffered, because it is deployed on a rockdeliver the mayor. At the time, the land was deployed to develop plants but today, part of this land is no longer alive so there is a need to change to safeguard and diversify biodiversity. » Work in two phases is planned in order to keep part of the park permanently accessible. ” The idea is to remove the asphalt from the driveways [qui permettent d’y accéder] and find more natural paths, such as forests “, develops Cécile Helle who wishes to renature the large esplanade above the former Sainte-Anne prison, “ that offers no shade and does not allow water to infiltrate “. The option of pergolas is on the table.
The playgrounds will also be reviewed, possibly adapted to age groups. ” This will be part of the consultation, the meeting is there to capture desires “recalls the mayor. On the City’s Facebook page, the pre-consultation has already started with many suggestions (toilets, more flowers, preservation of the family spirit) or testimonials from residents attached to the garden. The work is scheduled for spring 2024 with delivery expected at the end of 2025.
* At 5:30 p.m., this Tuesday 31 in the village hall of the town hall. Registrations at 04.13.60.52.26. or on jeparticipe.avignon.fr