Salam lays foundation stone for future 'Rafik Hariri Garden' on Beirut’s seafront

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam laid the foundation stone on Tuesday for the Rafik Hariri Garden on Beirut’s seafront, attended by several political figures, including former MP Bahia Hariri, the sister of the former prime minister. He was assassinated in Beirut in 2005.

The garden will be planted "with indigenous species from our coastline, such as pine and oak," according to Salam, and promises to be a breath of fresh air in a city suffocated by concrete.

"We are laying the foundation stone for a public garden named after a man who loved Beirut," said Salam. "Despite its rich history and unique beauty, Beirut suffers from a glaring lack of green spaces," he added, denouncing the city’s "air pollution and traffic jams."

"The laying of this park’s foundation stone is a key step on the path to restoring the environmental and health balance that our city has lacked for many years ... This park, which stretches along the corniche, will provide another gathering place in the heart of Beirut. It is a promise of respite in a city stifled by concrete, and a promise of renewal in the face of the neglect that has erased greenery and light," the prime minister said.

He also assured that the government is working hand in hand with the Beirut municipality, the Solidere group, and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) to reorganize the city’s public spaces.

Beirut is a densely populated city characterized by rapid urbanization, where public spaces are scarce and poorly managed. In 2020, the city had a total of 21 public parks and gardens covering a total area, providing less than one square meter of green space per inhabitant, a seafront promenade and a few beaches still accessible to the public.