Ganei Yehoshua (Hayarkon Park)

Ganei Yehoshua (Hayarkon Park) Review

This park is a strip of emerald tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in the northern part of town, it's the place where Tel Avivians go to stretch out on the grass for a picnic or a nap in the shade. For those seeking more activity, a long walk on one of its paths can be combined with a visit to the tropical garden and the rock garden (open Sunday-Thursday 10-2:30, Friday 10-1:30, Saturday 10-3:30). Or you can rent a pedal boat, rowboat (NIS 80 per hour), or motorboat (NIS 110 per half-hour) to ply the Yarkon Stream or the park's artificial lake. There's even a pleasure boat, which take up to 80 people for 20-minute rides (NIS 15 per person). To really break a sweat, try the park's climbing wall, roller-skating rink, or basketball court, with equipment for rent. In addition, there's a booth (050/454-5444, 10-dusk Sun.-Sat.) that rents bicycles or four-wheelers that take up to six people (with two or four people pedaling depending on the size) and are great for family fun (NIS 30 per half-hour for the bikes, NIS 70 per half-hour for the 4-person 4-wheelers, NIS 80 per half hour for the 6-person 4-wheelers). In honor of the Tel Aviv Centenary, it is one of the sites where the works of local street artists will be displayed, including posters, comics, and even graffiti. In July-August 2009, the park will host the Tel Aviv-Yafo Children's Festival, a Tel Aviv Centenary event showing children the history of the first Hebrew city in music, stories, and pictures.