Picture this a sprawling green expanse just beyond the city’s edge. This is the Parc départemental du Sausset a true oasis in the urban landscape. It’s more than just a park. It’s a testament to human vision and nature’s resilience.
Originally this land was devoted to large-scale farming. Cereals oilseeds potatoes and sugar beets thrived here. But the northern part of Aulnay-sous-Bois transformed rapidly. Thousands of homes were built. Industrial zones sprang up. This rapid urbanization created a need for a new sanitation system. A retention basin was necessary for the Sausset stream. The old Savigny farm sadly had to be demolished to make way for the project. This marked the beginning of the Parc départemental du Sausset. The Savigny pond a five-hectare body of water is the project’s centerpiece.
Initially a small urban park of 33 hectares was planned. Georges Valbon the then president of the Seine-Saint-Denis general council had a bolder vision. He wanted public green spaces to occupy 10% of the department’s area. His ambition led to the expansion of the project to an impressive 200 hectares. The Parc départemental du Sausset became both an urban and a landscape park. The first trees were planted during the winter of 1981-1982.
Today the Parc départemental du Sausset boasts 110000 trees. These include oak trees beech trees pines hornbeams laurels and ash trees. There’s a main body of water the Savigny pond. A two-hectare marsh also contributes to the area’s biodiversity. Vast meadows and pastures cover 110 hectares. Some areas even maintain their agricultural purpose with extensive grazing and a small vineyard.
The Parc départemental du Sausset is divided into four distinct zones. The Près carrés the Bocage the Puits d’Enfer and the Forêt. Each zone offers a unique environment. This thoughtful design is the work of the landscape architects Michel and Claire Corajoud. They integrated the existing landscape seamlessly with human needs. The park features a visitor center offering exhibitions and activities. It also includes picnic areas shelters public restrooms drinking water fountains and sports facilities.
The Parc départemental du Sausset is more than just a beautiful place. It’s a functional part of the region’s infrastructure. It lies between major transportation routes including the A104 motorway the N2 national road and other departmental roads. It’s also intersected by a high-voltage power line and the RER B train line. The proximity to the Villepinte train station ensures easy access. The Parc départemental du Sausset truly exemplifies the successful integration of nature and urban planning. It’s a place where city dwellers can reconnect with the natural world. Its success is evident in the large number of visitors. The park attracted nearly 920000 visitors in 2009. Its popularity shows the importance of green spaces in our increasingly urban world. This is the Parc départemental du Sausset a place of both beauty and vital function.