Hi,
I packed the kids and drove 15 minutes to the Hiriya site (or it has been called today Ariel Sharon Park.
The place used to be the main Damp of Tel-Aviv, and the cities from 1954 till 1998. During the years, the rubbish hill had raised up to 60m above its surroundings, holding about 16 million cubic meters of garbage.
The place had become a hazard to surroundings: the birds raised above it became dangerous to airplanes taking off and landing the near Ben Gurion Airport, the smell was inconvenient for the settlements around it, water flawing down from the mountain had polluted the aquifer, the methane gas accomilated inside the hill and might explode and more.
The dump was closed in 1998, and parlimenry actions were taken to take of hazards: covering the hill with dirt, strengthening the slopes, arrenging the drainage around the hill and drilling wells to pump the methane gas.
Later, the top of the hill was arranged, and it is now a green park with panorama all around and a stage for show. In the future, the valley that Ayalon stream flwas in (between the hill and Shalem farm) will be one big park.
This dump was named after the Arab village that was there before Al-Khayiryya (meaning “the good”). Ironically – nowadays Hiriya is used as a word for bad things
Take Care
Gad
The park on top of the mountain
The sign in entrance to the park on top Hiriya
Way side story – recycled concrete
North panoramic view towards Ramat Gan and Givataim
The sheds over the westren panorama
Westren panorama view
The plan of the park between Shalem farm and the Hiriya over Ayalon stream
West panorama
Looking west over Tel-Aviv
The skyscrapers of Tel-Aviv, they being built so fast the sign is not updated
Tel-Aviv skyscrapers
The shows area on top of the hill
Looking on the stage from the side
Way side story – collecting the gas
Looking south
The heart of the hill
The lake in the middle of the hill
Side story way – where is the garbage
Supporting the slopes