ANTWERP | Part of Scheldepark / Schipperspark / Zuidpark at Gedempte Zuiderdokken now open

On Friday 20 May 2022, a part of the new park at the Gedempte Zuiderdokken (Filled Up Southern Docks) in the Zuid or South area of Antwerp opened to the public. The (future) park is looking for a more catchy name and you can have some input in that process.

The inaugurauted area is the area above the former Steendok, between Gillisplaats and Van der Sweepstraat.

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Presentation

“In this area, three times the size of the Groenplaats, you can now enjoy a communal garden, a quiet garden, a playing field, a basketball court, two playgrounds… lots of trees and greenery”, Antwerp’s real estate agency AG Vespa says.

In addition, there’s a rainwater well is that recovers the rainwater. The park is also surrounded by a pedestrian promenade with a double row of trees that provides plenty of shade on hot days.

The existing plane trees were supplemented with four native species: linden, elm, pedunculate oak and alder.

Events square

The new Waterpoortplein, next to the Waterpoort (Water Gate) monument, is about the size of the Grote Markt and suitable for events in consultation with the neighborhood such as art markets, classical concerts, etc.

Below it is the collective rainwater well (1.5 million litres), to which the rainwater from the neighborhood is led. This is then used for, among other things, the maintenance of the park.

Looking for a name

The new park on the Gedempte Zuiderdokken, of which the first part is now ready, has not yet been named.

That is why the city is launching a call to every Antwerp resident: help choose the name of the new park.

Everyone can vote for one of the three options on www.parkzktnaam.be:

Scheldepark (Scheldt Park);
Schipperspark (Skippers’ Park);
Zuidpark (South Park).

The name that collects the most votes wins.

More to come

In the meantime, work continues on the construction of the second part of the park, above the former Schippersdok. In addition to a large grassy meadow in the middle, two water basins and spacious circular benches, this zone also provides a pedestrian promenade between the double rows of trees, and lots of greenery.

The large, open area with grass will provide breathing space.

Two water basins will be built on the side of the Waalsekaai, which will not only function as a place to relax, but also as a buffer and infiltration basin for rainwater.

On the one hand, the basins will be bordered by a spacious staircase, which will make the historic quay wall of the Schippersdok visible again. On the other side comes bank planting.

2023

During this phase, the Vlaamsekaai and Waalsekaai in this section will also be reconstructed. The works will end in the spring of 2023. In the autumn, the construction of the third and final part, above the former Kooldok, will follow.

The entire 7-hectare park will be ready by spring 2024.

Financial resources

A budget of 25 million euros has been provided in the multi-year budget for the construction of the entire park. The European Regional Development Fund invested 2.3 million euros in the construction of the section above the former Steendok.