Ten years after its closure, the Meynier de Salinelles park in Nîmes, in the Gambetta-Révolution district, reopens its doors to the public tomorrow.
Owned by the Gard Department, closed since 2014 and classified as a non-constructible natural area since December 2020, the Meynier de Salinelles park in Nîmes reopens its doors this Tuesday, July 2, with new facilities. This green lung is a place of conviviality and gives pride of place to relaxation, sport, culture and biodiversity.
Located at 26 rue Meynier de Salinelles on the Tour Magne hill, between rue Rouget-de-Lisle and rue Ménard, the park is in the heart of the Révolution-Gambetta district and very close to the city center. It is accessible on foot or by bike and is open from April to September from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from October to March from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The main parks and gardens of the City of Nîmes are described and located in the list below.
Inauguration of the Meynier park in Salinelles
The inauguration of the park took place on Monday July 1 in the presence of around a hundred people. Neighborhood residents like the former president of the Gambetta-Révolution neighborhood committee, Yann Roubeaud, who had mobilized for the survival of this green space, were present. “We fought so that this park could be preserved and redeveloped, we are delighted to see that most of the developments that we had imagined for this space were retained and brought to fruition. It took a long time but our voice was heard. It’s a victory for the residents of the neighborhood. »
Many elected officials from the city were also at the party, including Jean-Paul Fournier, Mayor of Nîmes, but also elected officials from the Gard Department, led by President Françoise Laurent-Perrigot. “The City of Nîmes is a pride of the department. I would like to thank Jean-Paul Fournier for facilitating this park rehabilitation project. Everything was very smooth. »
The new developments
The entrance to the park is through a monumental gate created by the Gard ironworker Molinelli (Best Worker in France). The central alley leads to the old fountain cave rehabilitated in cut stone, a real island of freshness with its pool, encircled by two sections of half-moon stairs leading to an upper terrace. From this driveway, located in the hollow of the plot, secondary paths start among the trees and vegetation typical of this old scrubland district.
The old hunting lodge, located at the entrance to the park, has been converted into a lodge for the guards, who provide reception, surveillance and daily maintenance of the premises.
The facilities and furniture installed have been designed to best respect the historic environment of the park. Visitors will also find gardening boxes with local plants, which are intended to raise awareness among young people about respecting nature and sharpen their knowledge of our plant heritage.
In terms of sport and mobility, intergenerational play areas are offered. The fitness area or “motor skills equipment”, its cabin and its trampoline will delight young and old alike, as will the ping-pong table and the bowling green, further up in the park.
The Meynier Park in Salinelles is also a cultural venue. During outdoor walks, the people of Nîmes can admire exhibitions there. The first, called “History of the Girls’ Teacher Training College and its Park”, which traces the history of the place in photos, is already visible on site.
The highlight of the facilities is the green theater, made up of stands and a wooden stage, which can accommodate around a hundred spectators. The stage is made available to schools, colleges, associations, theaters and local companies for performances, all in a unique setting, in the heart of Nîmes nature.
By Yann Benoit
