Toulouse: this historic track will become a 4.5 hectare park

The Aéropostale pioneers’ runway is partly classified, in its northern part, notably opposite the Halle de la Machine. Its southern part, starting from Place Bouilloux-Lafont and the UGC cinema, will be transformed into a large park by 2026.

This Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 10:30 a.m., Jean-Luc Moudenc, mayor of Toulouse, president of Toulouse Métropole, Annette Laigneau, vice-president of Toulouse Métropole in charge of town planning, president of Oppidea and Emilion Esnault , mayor of the district, invites residents and local residents to the party All on Track to share a friendly moment on the occasion of the launch of the revegetation work on the Piste des Géants.

All day from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., young and old will be able to enjoy workshops and activities (music, stilt walkers), discover the project thanks to an educational exhibition and guided tours of the site.

The project will include:

• 1,639 trees planted
• 28,000 m2 of track surface demolished (dewaterproofing)
• 18,000 m2 of planted land
• 2,000 m2 of leisure spaces (children’s play area, sports equipment, basketball court, sliding course, ping-pong tables, pétanque courts, etc.)
• 1.2 km of new cycle path (REV 12)

The project schedule is as follows:

• Spring/fall 2024: land evacuation and demolition of the runway surface
• Winter 2024/2025: first plantings on the northern (the flowerbeds) and central (the groves) sectors of the track
• Spring 2025: opening of the northern (the flower beds) and central (the groves) sectors of the track, development of the southern sector (the walks) of the track
• Winter 2025/2026: end of planting on the southern sector (the walks and the forum) of the track
• Spring 2026: end of furniture installations and complete opening of the Piste des Géants park

Toulouse Métropole has unveiled the first visuals of the project, with an explanation for each part of the park:

Les Parterres, to the north of the park, are at the interface with the track listed in the inventory of Historic Monuments. They mark the beginning of the Piste des Géants park and offer gradual revegetation through a set of lawns, perennial plants, shrubs and trees of several sizes.
This space will accommodate picnic areas and pétanque courts near the shops.

The groves, in the center of the park, distance the bus lane through a densely planted space. The trees in a grove create density, offering freshness and spaces dedicated to leisure activities, such as a sliding track and a play area accessible to all. The REV 12 cycle path and pedestrian traffic share the route with the Minotaur.

The walks, to the south of the park, allow you to follow the length of the track through planted places with varied atmospheres. Sometimes at a distance, sometimes passable, sometimes dedicated to uses, the plant patterns offer variations along the path taken by the Minotaur.
Paths allow you to enter the heart of the plantations to access leisure areas: pétanque court, ping-pong tables, children’s play area, etc.

The Forum encloses the park in a large wooded lawn, a space for relaxation and games. The paths allow you to reach Tarfaya Street, the Innovation Campus and Jacques Maziol Park while walking in the shade.

Carefully selected plants

Spanning 4.5 hectares, the Piste des Géants park will accommodate 1,639 trees by 2026. The plants have been carefully selected according to their belonging to the region and their ability to create a diverse ecosystem resistant to frost. winters and increasingly hot and dry summers.
The soil on the site, covered with airport tarmac since the 1930s, is very depleted. The reconstitution of rich soil, capable of supporting plant diversity and retaining water, constitutes a major challenge for the sustainability of the park.