(haipo) – At a residents' meeting held last night (Wednesday, 2.4.25) at the community center in the Bat Galim neighborhood, a plan was presented to upgrade a section of the Aharon Rosenfeld Promenade. The goal of the project is to create a series of promenades along the coastline, by connecting the Bat Galim Promenade (Margolin Wharf) with the Hulda Gurevich Promenade (HaBahad), which recently opened.
The event was organized at the initiative of the Haifa Municipality and the Public Inquiries team, with the participation of dozens of residents who wanted to express their opinions regarding the project planning. The meeting was moderated by Noit Ben Simhon, Director of the Service Quality and Public Inquiries Division.
"Residents at the center of the planning process"
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav opened the meeting and emphasized that the municipality is committed to public participation in all stages of the planning. "With the completion of the Hulda Gurevich Promenade, it is time to focus on the next section and ensure that residents receive the best response to their needs," said Yahav. According to him, the planning will be carried out in accordance with the positions of the residents, who will be able to express their opinions and choose their preferred alternative.
The goal: an accessible and friendly promenade for everyone
Tzachi Terno, director of the Haifa Municipality’s Project Management Department, emphasized the importance of the project and the rigorous process it is undergoing. “We received the project eight months ago, when there was already an existing plan, so the scope of public participation in this case is more limited,” explained Terno. However, he noted that in future projects, such as the Bat Galim Avenue upgrade, public participation will begin from the earliest stages of planning.
"We need your opinion, especially regarding the movement of users on the promenade. Therefore, we are presenting you with two alternatives, and you can choose the option that seems most suitable to you," said Terno. He emphasized that the goal of the project is to create an accessible and comfortable promenade, which will provide a solution for both pedestrians and cyclists, while improving the entertainment experience and preserving the unique character of the Bat Galim neighborhood.
"Connection to the sea – a guiding principle in planning"
Arna Ben-Zioni, the architect leading the project from Av Architecture, presented the planning approach and emphasized the ambition to make the coastline accessible to residents. "The project is called 'Facing the Sea' with a clear intention - to make the coastline more accessible and open. Currently, the pier is full of barriers such as fences, retaining walls and height differences, which make it difficult to have a direct connection between the promenade and the beach. We plan to remove these barriers and create an open space that will allow people to enjoy the view in a more free and natural way," she explained.
Ben-Zioni also noted the importance of adding shade along the section, while preserving the existing trees and planting more trees, to make the promenade pleasant to use in all seasons. "We plan to expand the sidewalks and create shaded spaces through low seating walls, which will allow for relaxation in front of the sea, alongside safe bike paths that will blend naturally with the shoreline," she added.
A moment of thunderous applause
When Ben-Zioni mentioned that the project would remove the casino fences to allow direct access to the sea, the statement was met with loud applause from the audience. Activists working to develop the casino structure and improve beach accessibility responded enthusiastically, emphasizing the importance of the move for the local community.
Shading and bike paths
Two alternatives were presented in the planning of the promenade:
Alternative A: A two-way road with a bike path and parking spaces on one side (99 spaces).
Alternative B: A wider one-way road, with fewer parking spaces but with a more spacious promenade (79 parking spaces).
“We recommend Alternative B,” Ben-Zioni said, “because it provides a more pleasant walking and cycling experience.” However, some residents expressed concern about losing parking spaces, as there are currently over 200 parking spaces in the area. In response, Tzachi Terno calmed down, noting that there are nearby parking lots that can be used, so the project will not affect accessibility for private vehicles.
A significant upgrade to the gaming space
The plan will also include the renovation of Rosenfeld Park, which is currently in a neglected state. "The park will be expanded, the wall blocking the view of the sea will be removed, and the public areas will be better accessible," explained Ben-Zioni.
Residents emphasized the importance of shade along the entire section and asked to ensure that it would be sufficient along the entire length of the promenade. In addition, they expressed a desire to restore the historic arches, which provided shade in the past and were an integral part of the area's unique landscape.
Dog Beach and Parking: Residents' Questions
Many questions have been raised regarding the dog beach, and concerns that reducing its area will harm its regular users. In response, Tzachi Terno clarified that the beach will continue to operate, but its size may be reduced slightly to allow for the expansion of the promenade.
On the subject of parking, Terno explained that reducing parking spaces along the promenade will lead to the examination of new arrangements, and among other things, the possibility of giving neighborhood residents preference in the internal parking spaces is being considered. Residents also addressed the importance of shading along the route and the effect of winds on the comfort of staying on the promenade.
"An impressive program with a long-term vision"
Yael Shinar, City Council member from the faction the greens And a resident of Bat Galim, welcomed the plan and noted that it is a significant project that could upgrade the face of the neighborhood. "I came here as a resident and as a mother of children whose future is here," she said. "I am a critical person by nature, especially when it comes to the controversial casino plan, but when it comes to the boardwalk plan - a huge sigh of relief for all involved."
Shinar thanked the mayor, the planning teams and the Yaffe Nof company, and emphasized that this is an "impressive and beautiful plan, really in good taste."
However, Shinar also addressed concerns raised by some residents, especially regarding the reduction of parking spaces. "I receive inquiries about this, especially from long-time residents, the builders of the country, who are having a hard time with the issue and are even asking for more parking spaces. I have full respect for the founding generation, but dealing with a parking shortage by adding parking spaces is the wrong approach – like trying to solve the obesity problem by increasing the belt," she said.
Shinar made it clear that she would prefer to see a shaded promenade, bike paths, playgrounds and seating areas along the beach – and not more asphalt dedicated to parking for private cars. She mentioned that alternative solutions have already been proposed, including designated parking for neighborhood residents only and adding a bus stop near the sea. “It must be understood that if we don’t give up some of the parking spaces, this entire beautiful project simply won’t come to fruition,” she concluded.
Next steps
The meeting concluded with a call from municipal officials to continue the dialogue with residents even in the advanced planning stages. The goal is to begin construction within a few months and transform the Bat Galim Promenade into a high-quality, accessible, and modern public space that will best meet the needs of residents and visitors to the area.
What's the point of the beautiful pictures and the festive speeches if the promenade plan wasn't presented in the article, for the information of most Haifa residents, who weren't invited and didn't know about the event? Present architectural content, an overview! You can't tell anything from the simulations!
Bat Galim Beach belongs to all residents of the city, not just the residents of the neighborhood. Those who come to swim there, because the sea there is relatively calm compared to other beaches, because of the lagoon, do not have to walk. We also deserve parking, not just the residents of the neighborhood.
Renovate the 2 old promenades in Bat Galim, maintain parking, and cancel the hotel at the casino. That way everyone will be happy 🙂
Instead of a hotel, make a community center for fitness classes, art, surfing, a restaurant, etc.
A welcome and important initiative!
It's just a shame about the parking lots, parking lots are better than a wide sidewalk.
And also, if they are renovating the Ratchich Aharon Promenade, then they should renovate the promenade all the way to the cable car, so that it will be uniform and pleasant.
The entire city is facing a parking shortage and the approach needs to change. Instead of occupying large areas of land for single-story parking, parking towers can be built, such as the one recently erected near Gate 3 of the port (opposite Government Building).
Haifa is very strong in simulations.
In Yahav's third term, he hung beautiful simulations all over the city, and it seems that the patent is being repeated at many conferences with the simulations, and the chance that all of this will happen is "no chance." The only thing they will advance is the elimination of half of the promenade for more roads for TAMA 3 developers who want access to parking lots. This is actually the only reason you advanced these plans, and what will come out of it is more roads instead of a promenade.
Enough with the parking lots already! Not every place needs to be a flat asphalt field. Would you rather have hundreds of people an hour suffer inconvenience for a few cars parked there for hours, driven by only one person?
Have you even thought about fishing enthusiasts!! Pensioners. Disabled. Young people. We are all fishing enthusiasts. Why aren't we renovating the breakwaters?? They don't do it like in Nahariya, for example. Or in Herzliya, for example. Or in Jaffa.. You're missing out on a very large group of fishing enthusiasts here. Aren't we human beings???? What's wrong with you?? You renovated one breakwater and it turned out horrible. Learn how to renovate and build breakwaters. Go to Netanya... to Tel Aviv... to Jaffa... to Bat Yam... to Nahariya... Chima deserves more than a walker than a dump. There's nothing in it, not even public toilets. A person who needs to pee is thirsty on the beach or will have to walk a kilometer to find a toilet. Shame and disgrace.
Bat Galim Beach and the promenade do not belong to the residents of the neighborhood, but to all residents of Haifa, and this is the city's only municipal coastline, so it was appropriate to receive broader feedback.
Secondly, there is a rise in sea levels at a rate of several millimeters per year and there is a real fear of huge floods in the coming decades, up to 20 years, and the entire promenade must be raised at least 1.5 meters above the current level. If this is not done, everything you are planning will go down the drain and be destroyed by floods.
Too bad I didn't know about the event. I consider myself a "resident of Bat Galim". Every day at the beach, running and swimming. Can I get the program footage?
A wonderful plan for Bat Galim residents who will be within walking distance of the magnificent promenade, but very bad for all Haifa residents who will have difficulty reaching the promenade because they have no parking spaces and not everyone will be able to walk from the few parking lots around the neighborhood to the promenade.
Then it will probably be easier for them to enjoy the southern beach promenades, which have parking spaces and accessibility, and thus the municipality caused the expropriation of the public beach and promenade space, mainly for accessible use by residents of the neighborhood or residents of a nearby neighborhood.
I'm not sure people will get on buses and travel a long time to stroll along the promenade when they have a comfortable promenade on the southern beaches with accessible parking spaces and a range of cafes, restaurants, snack bars and tidy toilets. And all on just the sea and clean sea air.
Don't forget the issue of restrooms. There are no restrooms along the entire Hulda Promenade. Not to mention there is no parking.
There is a slush pile and there are legs. If it doesn't fit, then we don't come. Not every area should be an asphalt field so that one person can park their car there for hours. They prefer a field of dirt.
You can't compare Bat Galim to the Carmel Beach. And you don't have to. The Carmel Beach is a huge, open area. It's noisy. And it's intended for mass use. Bat Galim is a residential neighborhood and most people who come to the beach are from the neighborhood and Kiryat Eliezer. And people also come from Mehadar by bus. Public transportation is excellent and you don't have to push noisy, polluting buses next to the beach. Every cafe that opens in the neighborhood is successful. And there are quite a few who love its special character. And appreciate the peace and quiet. They are willing to invest two meters of cake to enjoy a quiet, pleasant beach. Why destroy it?
As a loyal visitor to Bat Galim Beach who arrives from outside Haifa in a car, the parking problem is unbearable. Any plan that does not provide a solution for parking, and not only for local residents, will prevent the arrival of visitors from other parts of the country.
Why do we need visitors from the rest of the country? For what purpose? And besides, if the municipality, which works without a plan, carries out its plan and builds a dense high-rise neighborhood with thousands of residents, there will be no room on the crowded beach to put a pin in anyway. Not to mention that about a quarter of the beach area is designated for Dankner's personal use. Is parking the problem?