Park Halfweg

The Park Halfweg was opened on Sunday, May 4, 2019.

The 20-hectare area has been redesigned and made into Park Halfweg. It serves as a link between the larger green areas in the surroundings. On the side of the Leie, there is a connection for 'slow traffic' (walkers and cyclists). Both sports enthusiasts and nature lovers will find what they are looking for.

A park with many facets

The existing allotment gardens on the side of the Drongensesteenweg, the pond on the side of the Leie, and the central wetland area have been integrated into the park. There is also an existing piece of forest that will be preserved. The new paths make the forest more accessible. There are benches to rest on, and children can play on the mounds.
In the center of the park, there is a resting point from which recreational paths depart in various directions. Here you can also have picnics.

Walking above the water of the pond is also possible: you can take the boardwalk for that.
Swimming in the pond is not allowed.

A special piece of green: the Malemmeersen

In the center of the area lie marshes, a patch of swamps and wet grasslands. This area is rich in many different types of reeds, which is rather unique in Ghent. Wet thickets and herbaceous plants can also be found. The large buttercup is one of them. Special birds such as bluethroats, kingfishers, and reed warblers breed here. What is remarkable about the Malemmeersen are the 'rabatten'. It is so wet here because groundwater is bubbling up. This groundwater is called seepage. To get rid of it, shallow drainage ditches were excavated at regular intervals. The soil was used to raise the adjacent plots, making them round and higher. This created the elongated 'rabatten'.

To respect nature as much as possible, the marshes are not accessible. An elevated observation point gives you a good view of the area.

Camina