Nelson Mandela Park is located in the southern part of the Seine loop. It is part of a broader development effort for the Seine's banks, the Seine Aval National Interest Operation. The Chanteloup loop, in which it is located, is an important part of this National Interest Operation and a gateway to Seine Park. The Seine Park program aims to restore the Seine to its residents.

A true ecological corridor, the Nelson Mandela Park (10 hectares) will be the unifying element between the new neighborhoods and the historic city and will connect them to the Seine via the Parc du Peuple de l'Herbe. This urban park will offer crossings between the east and west neighborhoods, enlivened by the development of platforms with different themes (games, rest, picnics, etc.) allowing for the creation of a strong and diverse social dynamic.

The strength of the proposal from the Ilex and Sempervirens group, landscapers Safège and Biotope lies in the design of an urban park that offers functions of stitching between the East/West districts where each crossing is enlivened by the development of platforms with different themes allowing the creation of a strong and diverse social dynamic.

In the North/South direction, the park is presented as a "Rotule" piece connecting the different biotopes which make up the Seine, the Sensitive Natural Area (Parc du Peuple de l'Herbe) to the south, the agricultural plain and the surface compensation zone to the north.

The team was able, based on the guidelines set out in the specifications, to propose a balanced development by drawing on the park's programmatic constraints to transform them into strengths and thus meet social and ecological objectives by reconciling city and nature. Its approach: "the meander park is designed with the city and the environments that surround it."

A form of “urban nature”

Currently located on the site of former quarries and soon to be at the heart of the new Carrières Centralité buildings, the urban park will constitute "a true continuum of urban nature" linking both the historic town to the St Louis district (east-west) and the agricultural plain of the Chanteloup loop to the future Peuple de l'Herbe departmental park (north-south).

This project is thus designed to complement the urban project by connecting environments, from the most natural to the most urban, and to constitute a mosaic of atmospheres and places, with the primary quality of being alive and evolving.

The excavation of the greenway will make it possible to collect rainwater and runoff water from part of the ZAC, and to have alternative and sustainable water management.

The concept of platform islands

In addition to its central location, the park will be a true natural place for life and exchange.

Crossed by numerous “island platforms”, it will offer multiple routes where “surprises” will be revealed: a picnic area, games, sports or rest areas, educational gardens, etc.

This game of “floating places” will take the unique form of square platforms of varying sizes distributed throughout the narrow, urban part of the park.

The urban park, a place for exchange and consultation

The definition of this project will be the result of a series of workshops, bringing together associations and local residents, the services of the city of Carrières-sous-Poissy, the selected operators, the architect of the ZAC (Combined Development Zone), and EPAMSA. The equipment and overall design will be selected and adapted as closely as possible to local needs.

The works include:

The supply and installation of playground and fitness area equipment;

The supply and installation of furniture;

The manufacture and installation of locksmithing

Ecological innovationand water management

The 18 months of work on the first phase of the parkNelson Mandela will enable the implementationof three retention basins which will contribute toSeine flood management and recoveryrainwater.

Innovation also lies in soil treatment,studied in detail by the project engineers. On theseold quarries, the challenge is to treat thepollution and create fertile soil, where the plantationsperpetuate, while limiting the excavation. The base of theThe park will thus be redesigned, prioritizing the usehealthy soil from the site and addingtopsoil (6m3)per tree and a thickness of30 cm for meadows).

Floodplain ecological park, ecological corridor from the Seine to the plateau (Hautil forest), rainwater management, improvement of the quality of Seine water (decontamination, oxygenation, creation of spawning areas), alternative management of rainwater in public spaces (ecological fountain and watercourse).

Shared gardens, street furniture and innovative games, sports fields, sports trails, etc.), sustainable and agricultural management of large spaces (harvesting, creation of biomass).