Remember Jacob Kaplan’s name. This park carries the name of Jacob Kaplan. It is a green space in Lyon. Parc Jacob Kaplan is more than just a park. It is a tribute to a remarkable man.
Parc Jacob Kaplan sits in Lyon’s 3rd arrondissement. It lies in the Buire district. This 5,000 square meter park offers a green retreat. It provides a break from city life.
Jacob Kaplan was a resistant fighter. He later became the Grand Rabbi of France. He served from 1955 to 1980. The park proudly bears his name. It honors his legacy.
The Parc Jacob Kaplan has hydraulic features. An artificial infiltration ditch handles rainwater. This design marks the park significantly. The park’s construction finished in 2007. Gérard Collomb inaugurated it. He was the Mayor of Lyon then.
The park sits on a former industrial site. It was part of the ZAC de la Buire development. The Aimé-Césaire school borders it to the south. Rue Danielle-Faynel Duclos borders it too. So do Rue Professeur René Guillet and Allée du Parc.
Parc Jacob Kaplan has a contemporary design. Play areas are marked by metal plates. These plates show design inspiration.
Marc Littot designed the Parc Jacob Kaplan. His idea was to create a calm space. It should be both secluded and connected to the city. A two-meter deep ditch surrounds the park to the north and east. A walkway allows access to the garden.
The ditch is sealed. It features large pebbles from the Rhône. It serves as an aesthetic feature. Children can play in the water during summer. The ditch primarily serves as an infiltration basin. It helps for rainwater. It directly feeds the water table. Roof water from the ZAC collects in an independent network. It flows into the ditch. This water filters through a gravel bed. The bed lies under a slope rising from the ditch. Perennials and grasses are planted on this slope. They can withstand temporary submersion.
Normally, the ditch retains water in its lower part. During heavy rains, it prevents the network from overflowing. The water level can rise by one meter during a big storm. This rainwater management system combats climate change. It also helps during summer droughts.
The trees in Parc Jacob Kaplan cool the air. They use evapotranspiration. This improves comfort during heat waves.
Parc Jacob Kaplan won an award. It received the 2008 Grand Prix for architecture. It was awarded for urban planning and landscaping in the Rhône area.
The inauguration of Parc Jacob Kaplan was a big event. Gilles Bernheim, Chief Rabbi of France attended. Joël Mergui, president of the Consistoire central de France was present. Richard Wertenschlag, Chief Rabbi of Lyon Rhone-Alpes came too. Marcel Dreyfuss, president of the Consistoire Rhone-Alpes Centre attended. Children and grandchildren of Jacob Kaplan were also present.
Jacob Kaplan was a resistant fighter in Lyon from 1941 to 1944. This park serves as a reminder of his courage.