Independence Square, Netanya

Independence Square is the central gathering place for Netanya residents for every significant event – from Independence Day celebrations to performances, demonstrations, sporting events, and public ceremonies. For decades, the square served as the city’s beating heart, especially on holiday evenings, when thousands of residents flocked there to celebrate the community’s major moments together.

This was the case, at least until February 2012 – when events ceased, and the square was closed to the public for a comprehensive urban renewal project. It underwent a significant hiatus, after which it transformed into a fundamentally different place – modern, illuminated, experiential, and one that continues to attract visitors long after the fireworks have faded.

I am pleased and proud to state that I was part of the Netanya City Center Administration team during those years – a body that played a significant role in the planning, promotion, and implementation of the square’s renewal project. This was an ambitious undertaking, requiring a combination of architectural vision, precise urban planning, consideration for local heritage, and attention to the needs of both residents and visitors.

One of the prominent focal points in the square is “The Third Dimension” – a constructive structure featuring three large screens, on which videos and images from city life are projected. Among the projections: photographs by local photographers, moments from events held in the square, and occasionally even full-length films under the open sky. The structure adds a dynamic and vibrant layer to the experience of being in the place.

And the highlight, the main attraction added to the square, is the impressive water show – an interactive fountain that presents audiovisual shows accompanied by music, colors, and movement in the evenings. But not only then – the fountain also operates during the day, becoming a focal point for children who enjoy frolicking and getting wet among the water jets. It is a joyful and lively place that invites play, gathering, and an experience for the whole family.

Amidst all this innovation, memories have also been preserved: The mythological Lily Fountain, which was a symbol of the old square, did not disappear – but was moved to a new, nearby location, under the close supervision of Had Shmueli, son of Yitzhak Shmueli, who designed and sculpted it in 1973. The fountain, shaped like an open lily flower, was a familiar playground for children of the 70s and 80s, and a meeting point for many residents. Its preservation and relocation to a new site within the renovated square constitute a symbolic bridge between the old and the new – between local history and the renewed urban spirit.

Today, the renovated Independence Square is not only the city’s beating heart – but also an example of how a public space can be renewed without losing its soul. And I am pleased to have been a partner in this important chapter in the history of Netanya city center.