Paris Turns Highway Into Tropical Paradise

For the third straight year, Paris' City Hall will pedestrianize a riverside motorway by creating a two-mile long beach complete with sand, palm trees, and swimming pool.

1 minute read

July 22, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Jeffrey Goodman

A busy highway along the Seine in downtown Paris has been closed for another few months of "Paris Plage," an ambitious summer vacation spot with views of Notre Dame. After trucking in tons of sand, adding palm trees, chairs, and family activities, the two million dollar project opened to rave reviews and smiling faces from locals and tourists alike. With most of the construction costs paid through corporate sponsorship, Paris' Mayor Bertrand Delanoe praised the beach for bringing "pleasure and relaxation" to the hundreds of thousands of Parisians who get a slice of the Riviera in their own backyard.

Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman

FULL STORY: Palm trees, petanque and a pool take over Paris as summer "beach" opens

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 in Yahoo! Newswire

Architecture United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.