A walk along the avenue on Ben-Gurion Boulevard in the city of Kiryat Bialik

Recently, the warm weather has been pleasing us with its consistency. A wave of rains has passed, refreshing nature. On days like these, it’s a shame not to take the opportunity to stroll through the city parks if a trip out into nature isn’t possible. Today, I finished work a bit earlier and needed to attend to some personal matters. And so, a lovely day in the beautiful city of Kiryat Bialik.

My walk took me along a small but cosy avenue located on Ben-Gurion Street. Along the tiled pavement grew bushes and tall trees, interspersed with lawns of green grass. The avenue runs parallel to a roadway, with residential buildings on either side. The surroundings look calm and well-maintained. Along the walking path, there are benches for resting, made of wood with metal armrests and legs. This place feels like an oasis of tranquillity amid the bustling city, where one can relax in the fresh air.

At the very start of the avenue, there’s a small area equipped for physical exercises. The equipment is installed on artificial turf and surrounded by railings to ensure safety for all who wish to use it. In the centre, there are various exercise elements, such as a rotating drum and handles designed for arm and leg workouts. There are also metal arches of different shapes, which can be used for pull-ups or stretching. Equipment with rings and movable parts is intended for exercises targeting different muscle groups.

The area features informational signs with instructions on how to use the equipment. The sign includes text in Hebrew with illustrations explaining how to perform the exercises correctly, as well as safety warnings to avoid injuries. The overall idea is to promote health and encourage physical activity for all age groups.

My attention was drawn to the trees, which resembled acacias. Their branches bore long pods, some still green, while others had darkened and opened slightly to release their seeds. Their leaves resemble those of mimosa, with a similar shape and structure. This tree belongs to the legume family—Delonix regia. If I had seen it during its blooming period, its crown would surely have been adorned with bright flowers, either red or orange. These trees are common in Israel, appreciated both for their beauty and resilience to drought. They are often planted along streets and in parks.

The pods, as seen in photos, are elongated and measure about 30–50 cm in length. Young pods are bright green, smooth, and firm. Mature pods turn brown, becoming hard and slightly curved. Inside each pod are elongated seeds arranged in a row. The pods remain on the tree for a long time until they are fully mature. They then open, releasing their seeds to the ground or are blown away by the wind.

The municipality takes care of keeping public spaces clean, installing special bins with plastic bags for cleaning up after dogs in parks. This allows pet owners to maintain cleanliness, adhere to hygiene rules, and improve the overall state of the environment. Such initiatives by municipal services make parks more comfortable for all visitors. However, despite signs prohibiting leaving dog waste on the grass, unpleasant incidents still occur. People don’t even seem deterred by the hefty fines for failing to keep the area clean.

Here we see a small circular area paved with tiles. In the centre are three garden wheelbarrows painted in different colours, used as flower beds with blooming plants. In my view, this is a very creative approach by the designer. In the background are two metal giraffe figures standing on either side of a palm tree. They are part of the decor, though I can’t quite understand the reason for their presence here.

Nearby, there are elements of street design intended to teach children road safety rules. There’s a decorative construction on a pole featuring a stylised traffic light with the three standard colours: red, yellow, and green. Beside it, a tree is adorned with fabric in black-and-white stripes, resembling road markings. This installation is located in a public and busy area. The author likely aimed to draw children’s attention with a positive design incorporating an educational aspect.

I thoroughly enjoyed my walk in this place. It’s a well-kept recreational area where you can sense someone’s care for street design, and the authorities genuinely ensure cleanliness. Midweek, it’s mostly elderly people or parents with young children who can be seen here, but during holidays, when schools are on break, such places become significantly livelier.

I wish everyone a wonderful day and week! Take care of yourselves and don’t forget to rest!