Politis

Kourium Central Park Project Paused Following Public Reaction

Published January 22, 2026, 07:24
Kourium Central Park Project Paused Following Public Reaction

The Mayor of Kourio, Pantelis Georgiou, announced the suspension of the planning for the “Kourium Central Park” due to strong reactions from residents. He clarified that there was never a final decision to build the park, only an initial design. This decision comes after studies showed that the area around Argaki of Marketo is highly vulnerable to flooding, with the Town Hall recently flooded and the stream experiencing years of problems. Despite the reactions, the mayor emphasized that the flood protection works will proceed as planned, as they are a state obligation and are based on long-term studies. Land expropriations required for these works will be limited compared to the original park plan. Mr. Georgiou expressed his satisfaction with the citizens' participation in the public discussion, describing it as positive and emphasizing the importance of dialogue with society. The initial protest evolved into a substantial dialogue that helped the municipality redefine its information and consultation approach. The Municipal Council unanimously decided to freeze the park plan and remove the project from the municipality's budget, as the mayor stated they cannot proceed with something that does not have the consent of the community. The project has been completely halted and is no longer a priority.