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The proposed Aenaon Metropolitan Park at Faliro Bay has received the final approval needed for its construction contract, clearing the way for work for a major urban redevelopment project in the greater Athens-Piraeus agglomeration.

The Council of Audit approved the contract, Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias revealed in a social media post.

The contract is scheduled to be signed Sept. 2, with construction expected to begin in January 2027 and the park to open in the second half of 2029.

Hardalias said the project had been close to losing its funding when the current regional administration took office in January 2024. He claimed that his administration subsequently restored its standing with European funding institutions, resumed negotiations and secured 370 million euros in European Commission funding.

The project was unveiled in November 2024, when the regional administration pledged to reach the contract-signing stage within 24 months. The process is now expected to be completed in 21 months, Hardalias said.

During that period, 11 studies were completed, dozens of permits were secured, tender documents and terms were prepared and an international bidding process was conducted. Appeals and objections submitted during the process were also addressed.

The project underwent scrutiny by four institutions and oversight mechanisms: the Hellenic Single Public Procurement Authority, the Council of State, the European Commission and, at the final stage, the Council of Audit.

A 183-acre park designed to ‘reconnect’ Athens with its seafront

Aenaon is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of Faliro Bay, covering about 183 acres, along a rugged and undeveloped tract of coastline. The project is designed around extensive greenery and the creation of a large public waterfront space.

The plan includes the planting of thousands of new trees, extensive green areas, walking and cycling routes, as well as sports, cultural and recreational facilities. The park is intended to be an open, fully accessible public space aimed at reconnecting the urban area with the sea and creating a new metropolitan landmark along the greater Athens-Piraeus coastline.

The redevelopment forms part of the broader transformation of the Faliro waterfront, an area that has undergone major infrastructure and public-space interventions in recent years. Aenaon is intended to consolidate those changes into a large continuous green and recreational area accessible to residents and visitors.