Visiting Martin Luther King Park
In the 17th arrondissement of Paris, you will find a 10 hectare (about 25 acres) park. While it was long known as Clichy-Batignolles, it was renamed in 2020 to honor the civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
History
The concept for the park emerged in 2001, though landscape architect Jacqueline Osty and her team did not begin work on the site until 2004. The project was built on a foundation of sustainable development, with a specific focus on achieving a carbon-neutral footprint. This approach integrated energy optimization, wind turbines and solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and a dedicated waste management program.
Plant life was selected with precision. Only species that require minimal water, fertilizers, and pesticides were used throughout the grounds.
The park represents a push to reclaim paved Parisian spaces, extending greenery right up to the surrounding residential buildings. The site sits on the former Batignolles freight rail yard. While the original tracks still crisscross the area, they are no longer in service.
Evolution of Martin Luther King Park
Martin Luther King Park opened in three distinct phases. The first section debuted in 2007, covering an initial 4.3 hectares (about 10.6 acres).
In 2014, a second section opened to the public, adding 2.2 hectares (about 5.4 acres) to the total. As the neighborhood underwent a major renovation, the park was central to the urban planning strategy. This phase cost 22 million EUR (about $24 million) and included a pedestrian bridge crossing the old tracks along with a restaurant.
The final phase concluded in 2020. A waterfall and a pond were added, and a new metro station named Pont Cardinet was opened, providing direct access to the now 10 hectare (about 25 acre) park.
It remains a spot for relaxation and strolling through greenery in the heart of the capital.
Very recent compared to other historic gardens in Paris, Martin Luther King Park is truly modern and surprising.
Quite different from the Jardin du Luxembourg, you will be surrounded here by the new constructions (still under construction in 2017) of the Batignolles, with a decidedly modern architecture. The garden itself is decorated in an atypical way. The semi-wild looking water basins sit alongside play areas for children and teenagers, and the tall grass hides paths or benches, making you feel like you can immerse yourself in nature.
Very pleasant to visit with friends, as a couple, or with family, even if it is the victim of its own success, as there are a lot of people.