Gan HaMoshava, Urban park in Rishon LeZion, Israel.
Gan HaMoshava is an urban park in Rishon LeZion that sits directly beneath the city hall building, with shaded paths, palm trees, and open lawns. Walkways connect the different sections and allow visitors to cross the space from multiple directions.
Gan HaMoshava was planted in 1883 as agricultural plots worked by the colony's farmers; the plots were later sold to Baron Rothschild's officials, who set up a trial station testing crops and planted a citrus grove beside it. In 1939 the council agreed with PICA to take over the grove, which was uprooted in 1940 and turned into a public garden. Landscape architect Yechiel Segal redesigned it as an English garden in 1946–1947, and planting work ended in 1950.
The palm avenue was planted in 1890 for distinguished guests; among its visitors were Theodor Herzl, Arthur Balfour and Winston Churchill. Red palm weevils killed dozens of the trees in 2015, and the city cut them down that November; from May 2016 it planted 150 new palms along the avenue.
The park is easy to find since it sits right below city hall and has entry points from several sides. Those looking for shade will find it mainly along the tree-lined paths that run through the lower sections.
The garden's most famous feature, the avenue of Canary Island palms planted in 1890, was devastated in 2015 by the red palm weevil; dozens of trees died and the city cut down the dead palms that November. From May 2016, 150 new palms were planted to restore the avenue, along with 60 new lighting posts and security cameras.
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