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The Tel Aviv fountain that celebrated Israeli victories will no longer look the same

The construction of a future light rail station forced the Tel Aviv Municipality to close the ecological pool in Rabin Square.

The decision made as a result is to move its location to the other side of the square - at the expense of half the surface of the mythological fountain, which marked trophy wins and victories in competitions

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• Tel Aviv Jaffa

• Ecology and environment

Sapir Levy

Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 20:00 Updated: 21:05

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The historic fountain is about to undergo a dramatic renovation.

Celebrations of Neta Barzilai winning Eurovision 2018 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

The fountain pool in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv has existed there since the 1960s, and is especially remembered for moments of national happiness, in which thousands are documented jumping into it and splashing their waters, such as Maccabi Tel Aviv winning the European Cup final in 1977 or Neta Barzilai winning the 2018 Eurovision. Is facing a dramatic renovation, after the municipality decided to update it so that half of it will be turned into an ecological pool.

In fact, this is not a novelty in Tel Aviv Square, since already in 2011 an ecological pool was established on the other side of the square, which is a natural point that attracts many unique animals, and from which residents and visitors to the city enjoy.

However, due to the light rail works that are expected to begin soon, the pool will be closed in favor of the construction of the Rabin Square station on the Green Line.

The municipality decided not to give up the ecological complex, and instead of the current pool that will be eliminated, divide the mythical fountain pool in two - with half of its surface remaining as it is, and the other half becoming an ecological pool.

The mythical fountain pool will be renovated and half of its surface will be turned into an ecological pool.

Rabin Square (Photo: Walla !, Tel Aviv Municipality)

Renovation work on the fountain pool has already begun this week, when according to the first phase, the water from the fountain has already been emptied, and later separation walls will be erected between the two future pools. In the next phase, sealing work will be carried out and new water and piping systems, pumps and filters will be installed. Later the growing media and aquatic plants will be added, and a new fish will be introduced. West Bank plants will be planted in the pool for the purpose of filtering and cleaning the water, with an emphasis on Israeli vegetation.

Avi Levy, director of the planning and project management department in the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality's improvement department, says that they learned a lot from the current ecological pool, which created urban nature.

"We took something that was not acceptable and made it the center of attention. We learned how to make nature accessible to people in their 'yard', instead of having to leave the city for it. It is possible and exists. There is a lot of urban nature in Tel Aviv and a lot of municipal emphasis on this issue," he explains.

On the abolition of the current ecological pool in the square, he says that "we decided to keep it and set up an ecological pool elsewhere in the square. Although we will have to reduce its size, it will still provide the necessary solution."

"We took something that was not acceptable and made it the center of attention."

Rabin Square (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Elad Hochman, CEO of the Green Trend Association (Photo: Walla !, official website)

There are two methods of treating pools, one is the introduction of chlorine into the water, so animals cannot live in them. In the second, ecological method, it is the plants in the water that allow the circulation in the water, and help to purify them. "We place emphasis on the use of Israeli plants, even those that are in danger of extinction. There will also be ornamental plants in the pool whose contribution is only visual," Levy describes. "Wooden seats were also built as there are today near the pool, so that people could sit there. In addition, we learned that once there is a water element that is built properly, then the animals come by themselves."

Elad Hochman, CEO of the Green Trend Association, says that the production of urban nature is very significant. "The understanding that the urban space can also benefit nature is important. An ecological pool allows animals to use it and thus become part of the urban space. Beyond that, green spaces strengthen us as well, and create a relationship that connects the fast urban pace with nature. "

The new ecological pool is expected to be ready in August 2021

, and later a new design will be carried out for the entire area of ​​the square.

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