The urban renewal of Villeneuves de Grenoble and Échirolles continues! The municipal council on June 24 voted for the redevelopment of Parc Jean Verlhac. Opening the park to the heart of the city and reorganizing the facilities will allow all Grenoble residents to benefit from this future popular eco-neighborhood.
A unique global project in Villeneuves
With an investment of 13 million euros by the City in 2024 just for the park, the urban renovation project of Villeneuves and the Olympic Village is positioned as THE construction site of the century in Grenoble. This project includes the rehabilitation of 1,135 social housing units and more than 1,500 other housing units, the creation of the Les Trembles educational center as well as a swimmable lake in the heart of the park. In total, more than €300 million has been invested in the sector for an unprecedented urban renewal project. The project also includes the expansion and opening of the park to the city, the installation of new businesses on the renovated Market Square, support for the residents’ project for the Halle Iris and the opening of a facility dedicated to health and youth among other initiatives.
Open Jean Verlhac Park to the city
In order to make this urban renewal project accessible to all Grenoble residents, the redevelopment of the park provides for the complete opening of the North gate for direct access to the heart of the city, with the Chronovélo Grenoble- Echirolles and the La Bruyère tram stop. The demolition and development work on the north gate of the Arlequin has already begun and the Jean Verlhac park will soon be opened up to open onto the city’s main roads. This new entrance from the city will be greened and equipped with play areas so as to integrate it into the entire park, also redeveloped as part of this Villeneuves project.
A complementary redevelopment of the swimmable lake project
The redevelopment project for the Arlequin – Parc Jean Verlhac sector includes several initiatives aimed at revitalizing and beautifying the area. The Central Cove will be transformed into a pedestrian and green space with numerous trees, a playground and improved paths. The heart of the park will see the addition of an athletics track, the renovation of the amphitheater and the reorganization of the playground. The Market Square will be redeveloped to create a plant border between the lake and the fairground market. Finally, the slab at 160 Arlequin gallery will be reclassified to create a new park entrance. The project also includes improvements to signage, beautification work and artistic interventions in the Arlequin gallery. This redevelopment is a continuation of the project to open up the district to the rest of the city, and works in this respect, in complementarity with the swimmable lake project open to all.
Objective: to make the park and the lake a favorite place for residents
Currently, the Villeneuve lake, although ornamental, attracts a large number of bathers each year (including many children), especially during periods of high heat. Despite the poor quality of the water in terms of health, the lake has become a place of alternative coolness for residents. Based on this state of affairs, and in view of the climatic situation which will encourage the multiplication of heat waves in the decades to come, the municipality wishes to bring together the necessary conditions to make the lake a clean and pleasant place to bathe. The hydraulic system put in place will allow the recycling of water and its treatment by ecological processes, without chemicals. Of course, with a view to maintaining quality water without health risks, the number of bathers will be controlled (several hundred people at the same time) and the area protected by removable barriers, or fixed barriers integrated into the landscape, with pits delimited by natural swales, allowing the views of the lake to be preserved. Ultimately, this project aims to make the park and the lake a meeting place open to the city, where all residents can enjoy a healthy and natural space, a true island of freshness in the heart of Grenoble.
