Concerts, sporting events, the Champ-de-Mars hosts many events throughout the year. Too much according to the inhabitants of the district who denounce the nuisances
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the view is breathtaking but since the beginning of the month, to take advantage of it, you have to zigzag between barriers and construction machinery.
Walkers walk between the work gates • © France 3 PIDF
The Champ-de-Mars is preparing to welcome the Jumping de Parisan equestrian competition, to the chagrin of local residents and dog walkers: “we don’t have a lot of places in paris to walk them around so we often find ourselves here and three-quarters of the Champ-de-Mars are closed to the public. It’s true that it still happens quite often in the year” complains a mistress who regularly takes her dog to the square. “It’s a little infuriating to know that all of this is occupied by a demonstration that will last four days maximum” adds a walker.
Three days of event but a month of work, more than half of the park will be inaccessible until July and public transport will also be impacted. For Jean d’Izarny-Gargas, president of the association of Friends of the Champ-de-Mars : “the main problem that there has been, especially with the Jumping, is the closure to traffic, buses and cars, the closure of traffic in the center of the Champ-de-Mars which makes it possible to pass from the 7th at the 15th”.
Walkers walk between the work gates • © France 3 PIDF
According to local residents’ associations, the lawn is occupied more than 200 days a year by events. For the mayor of the neighboring 15th arrondissement, Philippe Goujon, the exceptional has become far too recurrent: “the Champ-de-Mars has been transformed into a field of ruins, a fairground, a racetrack, a court of miracles depending on the crime that reigns there while, of course, the residents, rightly , want to find peace, public tranquility”.
Construction machinery is installing bleachers for the Jumping de Paris • © France 3 PIDF
Residents should not return this famous tranquility quickly. In addition to Jumping next week, a big concert will be held on the lawn before giving way to the July 14 festivities.
Find all your reports on idf.france3.fr
#VIDEO #ChampdeMars #turned #field #ruins #races #concerts #demonstrations #local #residents #stop
