Eight years after the Hiriya waste mountain became a charming park, another huge complex was opened to the public today (Thursday) in the heart of the Ariel Sharon Ecological Park and the green giant lung of the Gush Dan metropolis is expanding.
Upon completion of its development, the park will become an ecological park covering an area of 8,000 acres, 2.5 times the area of Central Park in New York.
Until this vision is fully developed, you can enjoy the hundreds of dunams that have already been restored and become beautiful parks full of surprises: the mountain complex - which opened to the public eight years ago, and starting yesterday also an entire farm complex, in the center of the park.
So if you have known until now the entrance to the mountain complex, which can be reached from Highway 4 heading south (before turning right to Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem), the entrance to the new central part is from Highway 461, and Bar Lev Road in Tel Aviv. A huge parking lot among the tree orchards in the park.
The entrance to the park passes through an entrance boulevard inspired by natural elements by architect Peter Latz, with a large pergola in the center.
It's easy to imagine it packed with farmers market stalls, artists' fairs and street performances on Friday afternoons, as planned by the park's marketing director, Osnat Wieder.
Shalem Farm Ariel Sharon Park, Photo: Ben Nixon
Right next door is the first attraction, from which the name of the complex is also derived: Shalem Farm.
Here, in the open areas that surrounded the Ayalon River, the farm buildings were established in 1953 by the "Seed" Cooperative Agricultural Association, with the aim of growing and developing seeds for agriculture in the country in light of the economic boycott imposed on the Jewish economy in those days.
Here, in fact, the first seeds were planted for the transformation of Israeli agriculture into a modern and groundbreaking one on a global scale, as it is to this day.
The farm buildings were divided into two: one part was dedicated to activities and agricultural work, and another part with five semi-detached residential buildings, was intended for the residence of the farm workers and their families.
These buildings have been restored and restored, and in one of them you can watch an interesting sonic light show that tells the story of the place.
It is especially exciting to discover that Edna Kaploshnik, who was then one of the children of the workers and lived in the original buildings, became a guide on the spot, and on her tour you will hear stories and memories from that period first hand.
Cafes and culinary complexes are also expected to open in the restored buildings, as well as rotating exhibitions.
Ariel Sharon Park, Photo: Elo Nitzan
Not far from the compound of the restored buildings comes the turn of the children to have fun and frolic: an ecological playground with dozens of facilities has been established on an area of three dunams.
All facilities here are made of Rubinia wood and environmentally friendly ecological materials.
Here you will find challenging facilities built on a unique topography.
And designed in a unique and colorful way.
As befits an ecological park, you will also find in the new complex of the park a wonderful and playful ecological variety, which includes a winter pool that dried only a week ago, a spectacular birding lake, and a garden of herbs and herbs, which surprisingly invites visitors to pick herbs.
The spice garden in an entire farm complex in Ariel Park sang i, Photo: Ben Nixon
Every year, the beautiful bird lake established in the park is visited by more than 200 different species of winged animals, including kingfishers, siskins, herons, magellans, red-breasted grebes and more.
The lake is regularly monitored by birds, during which birding training is organized for organized groups.
You will also find beautiful observation decks around the lake, one of which stands under large and yielding strawberry trees.
A real pleasure.
In addition, nature, environment and sustainability tours are offered by the park's training department, which are adapted for diverse age groups.
Thousands of different types of plants have been planted throughout the entire farm complex, carefully selected and in collaboration with birdwatchers and ecologists in a way that will create an ecosystem system that will attract a variety of birds and animals.
Among the ornamental trees and trees of the Land of Israel that you will meet here: poplar, strawberries, olive trees, almond figs, these are the Land of Israel, the Tabor oak and more.
In the spice garden, rosemary, mint, Maccabean blood, common moss, thyme and more were planted.
Also in the parking complex, about 250 were planted and around them wild and ornamental plants galore, so we can get shaded parking and in a park atmosphere.
In addition to all these the park offers hiking trails alongside cycling trails.
Shalem Farm Complex, Ariel Sharon Park, Photo: Doron Yashinsky
Music in the mountain complex
This is the place to also mention the older mountain complex, which is a green and pleasant park for hiking that also offers open spaces, a beautiful lake with aquatic plants, observation points and guided tours.
On their way up the mountain and into the compound you will pass through the Dan Cities Association, a reminder of the previous incarnation of the mountain, which deals with waste sorting as a transit station before sending it to landfill elsewhere (the association is not part of the park and is an independent entity).
In addition to the fun activities of hiking in the mountain complex during the day, in the evening it becomes the "Skyline" concert complex where music performances by the best artists are held in the open air, with the stage located at the peak of the mountain, and spectators sitting or standing in front of Tel Aviv skyscrapers, under light The moon and under occasional planes on their way to land at the nearby airport.
In addition, a new concept of street food stands will be attached to the shows, which will serve premium dishes from various world cuisines.
The menu is the responsibility of the BARAKA HOUSE group, which sells well-known restaurants from Mashiyah, Onza and Kitchen Market.
The performances are offered at a discount of NIS 70 per ticket as part of the American Express card.
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