The Promenade du Paillon in Nice, known as the Coulée Verte, is a green park designed by landscape architect Michel Péna. It connects the Promenade des Anglais to the national theatre (now demolished to continue the park), running alongside the Avenue des Phocéens and Boulevard Jean-Jaurès. Construction began in 2010 with the demolition of Nice's bus station, at a total cost of 40 million euros. The park was inaugurated on 26 October 2013 by Christian Estrosi and Éric Ciotti. The park covers 20 hectares and contains 1,600 trees, 6,000 shrubs, and 50,000 perennial plants. Over 1,000 new trees representing more than 50 different species were planted, including Mediterranean species and trees from similar climates across Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. A highlight is the giant mirror of water, 3,000 m² with 128 jets, which puts on aquatic and light shows. Next to it, a mist plateau with 960 misters creates an artificial cloud over 1,400 m², particularly welcome during summer heatwaves. Children have become the true stars of the promenade, playing on the water mirror and misting area, or climbing the giant wooden sculptures including a life-size whale, dolphins, an octopus, a turtle, and a ship. The park is also an open-air art gallery, with works including Niki de Saint Phalle's Loch Ness Monster, Arman's bronze double bass sculpture, and Bernar Venet's steel structure. The MAMAC contemporary art museum and the iconic Tête Carrée sculpture by Sacha Sosno are also located within the park. In October 2025, a major 8-hectare extension was inaugurated, expanding the park northward. The extension required the demolition of the former national theatre and congress centre, and is expected to reduce air temperature by 2 to 3 degrees and perceived temperature by up to 10 degrees during heatwaves.
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