The City of Orléans wants to develop a green space near the Georges-Chardon gymnasium and the Bénédicte-Maréchal school.
The surface area is approximately 2,000 m². Currently lying fallow, after having been squatted for a long time, this plot of land that separates Place Georges-Chardon, in the Dauphine district, from Rue des Anguignis, will soon be transformed. The City wants to make it a gentle link, equipped with fitness equipment. This is the last stage of the Dauphine operation, which began in 2014. The project was presented on Thursday, June 27, at the foot of the Georges-Chardon gymnasium, in front of a handful of residents.
This wasteland will become a soft connection. © Maude Milekovic
“The idea is to work it like a garden, with a canopy and a skylight in the middle,” describes Olivier Striblen, landscaper and designer of the project. “The fruit trees, in poor condition, will be removed. But the lime tree, yew and ginkgo (also called the tree of forty crowns) will be preserved. We want to keep as many as possible, and promote biodiversity. On the other hand, the basin with its small bridge will be removed.”
“It’s very good, because it was a nest of trash,” reacts one of the three local residents present. “And the fences?” he asks.
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“Wall, fence, plants… Not all the details have been defined,” continues the landscaper. “There will be plantings along the garages and houses, but no climbing plants directly on them.” “We will not touch private fences,” adds Virginie Marchand, the deputy of the Saint-Marceau district.
For the rest, paths will allow for pedestrian access. “It will not be a cycle path,” the elected official guarantees. Facilities will be installed to prevent motor vehicles from entering this area. But, chicanes or bollards, there too, “we don’t know yet.” And rainwater “will flow naturally into the lawn and plantations, which will be maintained by the City.”
The plan of the future development. © Maude Milekovic
The City hopes to make this space a place shared by everyone, “young and old”. Thus, benches will be installed there. But above all, the City plans an area of 100 m² with equipment “to allow everyone to play sports, at all ages. This is one of the results of the participatory budget”, explains Virginie Marchand. Up to 80,000 euros could thus be devoted to it.
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This “fitness and street workout” area project for populations of all ages, with the supervision of qualified sports coaches”, had in fact been proposed by the With pleasure association, which works for social and professional inclusion through sports. “It should work with a reservation system,” explains Yosua Badila, a volunteer with With pleasure. “Our goal is to create a bond, while allowing people to relieve pressure through physical activity. And everyone will be able to practice : young people and old people alike! We really want to make it an inclusive place.”
Work is expected to begin at the end of 2024.
Maude Milekovic
