Yarkon Park — Attraction in Tel-Aviv

Night view from Park Hayarkon to TLV

Yarkon Park (Hebrew: פארק הירקון‎, Park HaYarkon) is a large park in Tel Aviv, Israel, with about sixteen million visits annually.Named after the Yarkon River which flows through it, the park includes extensive lawns, sports facilities, botanical gardens, an aviary, a water park, two outdoor concert venues and lakes.

Planning of the park began in 1969. When it was opened to the public in 1973, it was called Ganei Yehoshua, honoring Yehoshua Rabinovich, the mayor of Tel Aviv between 1969–1974.

The park has six gardens: Gan HaBanim (Fallen Soldiers Memorial Garden), Gan Nifga'ei HaTeror (Terror Victims Memorial Garden), Gan HaSlaim (Rock Garden), Gan HaKaktusim (Cacti Garden), HaGan HaGazum (Trimmed Garden), and HaGan HaTropi (Tropical Garden).

The Rock Garden, one of the largest of its kind in the world, reflects Israel's geological diversity. In its 10-acre enclosure the rocks are interspersed with some 3,500 species of plants, including over six acres of cacti. The five-acre Tropical Garden has a wooden walkway shaded by palm trees leading to a small lake. The rainforest-like microclimate supports a large variety of orchids and vines.

The Yarkon River runs through the park and reaches the Mediterranean Sea at the park's western edge, then connects into the Tel Aviv Port, an entertainment and tourism center. Despite clean-up efforts in the last few years, the river is still polluted. Despite its polluted waters, on July 2011 Tel Aviv's mayor, Ron Huldai, jumped into the water and swam in the lake. Nevertheless, the region has retained its biodiversity. It is home to an abundance of insects, water fowl, golden jackals, porcupines...

This is the "Central Park" of Tel Aviv. Well kept and popular place for fresh air - although for those with sensitive ears - one is never far from the rumble of traffic from nearby Rokach Blvd. Free and mostly clean toilets. Fresh drinking water. Well marked bike paths. The best that Israel has to offer and a...

Lovely promenade along the Yarkon river, with walking lane, bike lane, and a lot of trees and benches around the vast grass fields. You can also rent a boat during spring and summer seasons, or a pedal-based vehicle for your convenience. There's a small free mini-zoo and snack shop...