Parc de Choisy: the green lung of Paris's 13th arrondissement and its assets

Close to Chinatown, near the Cité scolaire Claude Monet, and bordered by Rue du Docteur Magnan, Rue Charles Moureu, Rue Georges Eastman andAvenue de Choisy, you'll find Parc de Choisy. Note that Parc de Choisy is one of the"Paris fête les Jeux" festivities sites during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Classically inspired, this verdant parkwith its rectangular geometry is criss-crossed by two perpendicular axes leading to a large pond. The esplanade in the center of the park overlooks the dental institute on one side and the open-air theater on the other. A relaxing garden with a wide variety of trees and playgrounds for children.

Its special feature is a round porphyry table, donated by Finland to France for the 1937 Exposition. Rue Georges Eastman is also home to the George Eastman Foundation, built in 1937 from a donation by the American industrialist and inventor of Kodak, to monitor the dental hygiene of local children. To this day, the building houses, among other things, a municipal oral health center.

The park is renowned for its rich collection of diverse trees, including ash, lime, ginkgo biloba and the remarkable Atlas blue cedar, planted in 1939 and classified as a "remarkable tree". The latter, commemorating the centenary of the 1789 revolution, is a living witness to French history.

Parc de Choisy is also a place of remembrance, with several important commemorative steles. There's a stele commemorating the deportation of local Jewish children, and another honoring the victims of the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge regime.

In addition to its memorial role, the park is also an active leisure area, with playgrounds, sports trails and rest areas for all ages. On the right, as you enter from avenue de Choisy, you'll find these sports trails. The first circuit covers 875 meters, the second 600 meters and the third 375 meters. Additional training equipment is also available to complete the sports experience.

Ping-pong tables and a basketball court are on hand for sports enthusiasts, as are group classes in muscle-building and tai-chi-chuan.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 16 - 22, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• What to do in Paris in December 2024? Discover this month's events in the Paris Region
• New Year's Eve 2024-2025 in Paris: December 31, 2024 parties by arrondissement

A dovecote has been installed in the Parc de Choisy to limit pigeon reproduction. In the center of the park, between the restful fountain and the Georges-Eastman Foundation that watches over your teeth, you'll find a medicinal garden featuring a wide range of plants used for a variety of purposes, from headaches to digestive disorders and skin ailments.

There are plenty of play areas for children, too. They can also enjoy a puppet show that runs from spring vacation to summer vacation. Le Guignol de Paname is located on the site of the old Lyonnais castelet, and has been completely renovated and modernized, now offering a covered auditorium.

Passionate director Dominique Roisin is determined to perpetuate tradition while integrating modernity and interaction to captivate contemporary audiences. With shows that combine fairy tales, bright colors, music and interaction, little ones enjoy sculptors, decorations, comedy, music and song. In summer, the park is transformed into a play center, with mobile toy libraries offering a variety of games for children.

For a breath of fresh air in the midst of high-rise buildings, the Parc de Choisy stands in stark contrast to its tranquil setting in the heart of the 13th arrondissement. If you want to enjoy a moment in the sun with your Banh mi, bump into grannies doing the splits, take on your pals at basketball or ping-pong, or simply admire the ballet of the fountain from a bench, this is the ideal spot. The park is open every day, including public holidays, with varying opening hours depending on the season, guaranteeing accessibility for all.