Kiryat Sefer Park, Tel Aviv

I capture quite a few panoramic images, but I don’t always manage to assemble them into the final panorama. Occasionally, these images remain stored in a digital drawer, awaiting the moment I recall them or find the time and inspiration to revisit and work on them. This process can span weeks, months, or even years.

This was also the case with the Kiryat Sefer Park panorama. I visited there in late 2014, during one of my urban explorations, riding the bicycle that appears in the panorama. The park deeply impressed me – a green, vibrant, and lively space established on the site of an old parking lot. The water feature, the meticulously maintained flora, and people enjoying the area created a sense of serenity and thoughtfully designed urban living. Despite the positive experience, the photographs were set aside, until now.

Ten years elapsed, and the panorama remained in the digital drawer until I watched a video by Ilya Kogan on the excellent channel “A City to Live In,” which discusses the principles of sound urbanism. The video showcased Kiryat Sefer Park as an exemplary model, reminding me of my visit there.

The park itself represents a remarkable achievement in urban planning, serving both Tel Aviv residents and visitors. In place of an old, neglected parking lot, a green and vibrant public space was created. Despite its modest size, the park is intelligently utilized: a central water feature attracts birds and wildlife, expansive lawns invite recreational activities and games, and pleasant pathways cater to pedestrians and cyclists. The trees and vegetation are meticulously maintained, providing shade and tranquility amidst the bustling urban environment.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the park also symbolizes a shift in mindset – a project that underscored the importance of green spaces within a dense urban environment. It emerged from a public struggle and has since become a model for similar initiatives nationwide.

Here is the result – above, the panorama reflecting the beauty of Kiryat Sefer Park, and below, the video that motivated its completion. Now, I am already contemplating the next project: a visit  to the new park established in the Yitzhak Sadeh/HaMasger area. I hope that a unique panorama will also emerge from there – this time, without a decade-long delay.