Champs-Élysées in the city of Paris, France is one of the most famous and recognizable avenues in the world. It had, for long, been called the most beautiful avenue in the world.
However, unfortunately, this famed thoroughfare has been losing its past glory. Many local Parisians consider this hallmark of Paris as overcrowded, noisy, and traffic-clogged. They look at it as a mere tourist destination that has seen better days.
But, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has recently approved a makeover for the avenue costing around 250 million euros to transform Champs-Élysées into what she called “an extraordinary garden.”
As part of this initiative, roads will be turned into verdant green spaces and will become pedestrian friendly. Many trees will be planted to improve the air quality, and the space reserved for vehicles will be reduced by half.
The first stage of the renovation is due to be completed before Paris hosts the 2024 Olympic Games. The remainder of the work will be completed by 2030.
Advocates had long been pressing the government to take decisive action to improve the conditions of the avenue, which sees thousands of vehicles passing each day. The main backing for this initiative came from the Champs-Élysées committee, which represents the cultural and economic players on the Avenue such as museums, theatres, brands and independent shops.
As per the architects behind the plans for the revamp, out of the estimated 100,000 pedestrians who visit the avenue each day, around 72 percent are tourists while 22 percent work in the area.
Isn’t this a great step by the local government to bring back the lost glory of this iconic location? What do you think? Let us know your views about this initiative in the comments section below.
