The resolution of key environmental and operational problems of the greater Athens area, as well as the consolidation and establishment of the role of the coastal zone of Faliron Bay as a pole of activities, recreation, culture, sports and tourism of metropolitan scope, through the reconstitution of a Mediterranean Park, are today a great challenge, as they remained as a pending issue that suspended for almost two decades the dynamics of the city, devaluing the implemented projects of the Olympic Games.
The need to promote the above strategic objectives and implement the necessary urban regeneration projects became even more visible following the nationally important work of the Stavros Niarchos Cultural Center and the location of central functions of the city on the seafront.

The last phase of the design that defines the current project began in 2011, when at the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change and funding from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) were awarded (a) the new Concept Master Plan of an area of 560,000 sqm, for the creation of a Metropolitan Park (between Kifisos Avenue and Esplanade) to the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and (b) the complete set of studies of this Park to a consortium of Greek specialized consultant firms.
The programme of integrated urban regeneration of Faliron Bay was legally instituted in 2013 and was initially organized into three distinct, in terms of physical object, subprojects that were spatially intertwined.

The Region of Attica, taking advantage of the prospect of funding the project with cohesion policy structural funds, aims to maximise the benefits for society and the urban environment, adopting the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB), compatible with the modern European objectives of Green and Sustainable Development, which promote green, sustainable and inclusive cities, improving the daily lives of citizens.
To this end, the Region of Attica, in cooperation with DG REGIO of the EU, the Consultants of the JASPERS Group and a Greek multidisciplinary team of consultants of the project, enriched the emblematic urban metropolitan park in Faliron Bay under the name “AENAON” with the necessary elements, in terms of physical and functional planning, that will make it a successful reference point for Athens, Attica and the European Union in general.

In addition, based on the European Policy for Green Transition as well as the emblematic character of the project, the Region of Attica, in cooperation with the M.A. of the “Environment and Climate Change” Programme, enriched the existing design of the Park with a “participatory” approach carried out with the collaboration of Bodies, Organizations and Citizens in order to synthesize and exchange productive proposals for the regeneration of the area, in a way that encompasses both the social, environmental and architectural needs of the project.
The proposals collected concerned the optimal mix of uses to maximize the attraction of the public, the strengthening of educational thematic actions, ensuring the inclusion of all ages, the accessibility to the Park and the accessibility of people with disabilities, as well as the upgrading of walking routes and the connection of cycling routes.

The complete project, as was finally developed, is co-financed by the Cohesion Fund of the programming periods 2014-2020 and 2021-2027, through the NSRF programmes “Transport Infrastructure, Environment, Sustainable Development 2014-2020″ and “Environment and Climate Change 2021-2027”, respectively.

The projects in the regeneration area aim to: a) the environmental upgrading of the area and the creation of a Metropolitan Park with a total area of approximately  600,000 sqm, focusing on nature, culture, exercise/sport, entertainment, (b) the harmonious and functional layout of the technical infrastructure and especially the transport works of the coastal zone, to ensure the seamless and harmonious continuity of the city, as well as the optimal connection of the coastal zone with the hyperlocal network. the effective flood protection of the immediate and wider area, (d) the functional and aesthetic connection and continuity of the coastal zone of Paleo Faliro with the park of the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Kastella and Piraeus, utilizing and upgrading the already implemented Olympic projects in the Faliro Bay, from Ilissos to the Faliriko Delta.
The projects were promoted in two implementation phases, Phases A and B, of which Phase A is co-financed by the Operational Programme “Transport Infrastructure, Environment, Sustainable Development 2014-2020” and Phase B by the Programme “Environment and Climate Change 2021-2027”.

Phase A concerns exclusively the execution of Urban Infrastructure Projects (transport, plumbing and accompanying EM projects as well as displacements/restorations of public utility networks), i.e. projects that do not generate revenue, but contribute to the environmental and functional upgrading of the city. In particular, it includes transport works that ensure the continuity of the city with the coastal front, as well as the optimal interconnection of the coastal zone with the hyperlocal urban road network, with the dominant transverse displacement of Poseidonos Avenue, flood protection of the immediate and wider area and support facilities.

Phase A has already been almost completed, technically ensuring the conditions for the start of Phase B projects.

Phase B, with works currently under procurement, concerns the basic Regeneration projects that shape the physiognomy and “epidermis” of the Metropolitan Park, i.e. surface configurations and planting projects, buildings and secondary installations in designated zones, infrastructure serving the above constructions, as well as Selected Port Projects within the sea, which complement the entire regeneration of the seafront.
The regeneration design foresees thematic functional units that are developed around five longitudinal axes – key entrance gates to the park – symbolizing the continuity of traffic to and from the city. The planned redevelopments relate to:

a) landscaping projects, environmental installations, planting, as well as necessary infrastructure projects, i.e. projects mainly related to the “epidermis” of the entire regeneration area – 536,860 sqm in total – aimed at the environmental upgrading of the area and the creation of a metropolitan-scale Park.

b) supporting building programme of the Park that includes new building projects with a superstructure of 3.957,30 sqm and accompanying auxiliary underground spaces of 865,30 sqm, roofs of 810 sqm, underground parking spaces of 30.930 sqm, remodeling and improvements of existing buildings, and special constructions.

c) creation of footbridges, in Ilisos, in the western channel to Kifisos and in the above water tanks, which ensure the connection of the individual zones and the internal mobility within the park,

d) road construction works exclusively within the park Area (i.e. internal roads, with asphalt running surface), outdoor parking spaces for powered two-wheelers and access to underground parking spaces, with the associated infrastructure works.

e) plumbing works within the park area (rainwater drainage, surrounding area, sewage drainage, primary and secondary irrigation network, and supply of recreation tanks)

f) port projects, as well as all necessary additional studies thereof, at the final stage of physical planning. These projects concern piers, islets, beach configurations, etc. (Moscato and Kallithea up to the nautical marina), except for the “epidermis” configurations of works in the sea,

g) Noise protection measures to reduce urban noise from transport.

h) Construction of new crossings and other improvements to the accessibility of pedestrians and micromobility on Ethnarchou Makariou Street and from Faliro Metro Station to the Park.

The development of the Urban Metropolitan Park “AENAON” in Faliron Bay in Attica is one of the most mature environmental and development projects of urban regeneration in our country with wide institutional and social acceptance.