The fully regenerated Rizari Park was handed over to Athenian citizens at an official inauguration held this afternoon. Following action taken by Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis, Rizari Park, which was owned by the Hellenic Public Real Estate Corporation up until 2007, passed into the "hands" of the city and the undeveloped property was converted into a green lung.

The park's regeneration was made possible through the sponsorship of the Pateras Foundation. Together with Mayor Kaklamanis, Panathinaikos Sports Club chairman and Pateras Foundation chairman Nikos Pateras, former minister and Athens A constituency MP Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Deputy Mayors, City Councillors and numerous residents attended the launch.

During his brief address, Mayor Kaklamanis noted: "A dream has become a reality. With the generous sponsorship of the Pateras Foundation and the people of our Municipality, a beautiful park measuring some 1.5 hectares opens its doors to our fellow citizens and city visitors.

A park which, together with a green space behind the Byzantine Museum that is being remodeled and that of the Aristotelis Lyceum, will together constitute a cultural and environmental trilogy through which we can walk.

The remodeling of Rizari Park involved the planting of 10,000 sq m of greenery - namely 98 trees, 406 bushes and 9,000 sq m of turf, the installation of three wonderful sculptures ("Mazikopiisi" by sculptor Y. Lambrou, "Plastiko orama" by sculptor Y. Kalakalas and "Synthesi" by sculptor C. Kapralou) that belong to the City of Athens, the creation of walkways covering some 3,000 sq m and the illumination of the park with 130 lights.

I would like to thank my friend, Pateras foundation chairman Nikos Pateras and the people of the Municipality who contributed to this successful regeneration".

For his part, Nikos Pateras thanked Mayor Kaklamanis and all individuals involved in the project, noting that it was a great honour for the foundation to be able to contribute to the creation of Rizari Park, which is to the benefit all Athenians.

Nikitas Kaklamanis and Nikos Pateras then unveiled a marble honorary plaque stating that the Pateras Foundation sponsorship was made in memory of Diamantis N. Pateras.