The future of Park West in Molenbeek is secured. This was announced by Ans Persoons, the new Brussels State Secretary for Urban Renewal and Environment & Climate. Leefmilieu Brussel and its teams will be able to continue to count on the collaboration with the vzw Toestand in the coming years to open up the park, bring it to life, and help it evolve in dialogue with the neighbourhood.
“Park West has grown into the playground and meeting place for an entire neighbourhood in recent years. This is thanks to Leefmilieu Brussel and Toestand vzw, who, together with the local residents, gave the space form and a heart. Access to green space is very unevenly distributed in the Brussels-Capital Region. The neighbourhood around West Station is home to many people, but there was no outdoor space tailored to the community. The residents have lost their hearts to Westpark. We are therefore very pleased that Leefmilieu Brussel, together with the Toestand vzw team, will continue to look after the space in the coming years,” says Ans Persoons.
Meeting point and playground
On a former wasteland in the heart of Molenbeek, between the Beekkant and Weststation metro stations, something special has been happening since 2022. This former railway site has become a favourite meeting place for local residents, a beloved playground for children, and the setting for workshops, concerts, and so much more.
Under the impetus of Leefmilieu Brussel, vzw Toestand has given this forgotten corner of the city a new lease of life in this densely populated neighbourhood. By carefully listening to the needs of the local residents, and translating these into concrete projects and activities tailored to the neighbourhood, the park has become a home for many residents of Molenbeek. People look out for each other in Park West, and the neighbourhood looks after the park.
The future of Park West was uncertain for a long time, and the site even threatened to close. This caused a huge wave of outrage. Local residents and community organisations stepped up to urge the caretaker government to save Park West. The first sunny days brought good news for the park: one of the first decisions of the new Brussels government was to extend Toestand's contract, following a public tender by Environment Brussels.
Footbridge
The temporary use of the park goes hand in hand with what will eventually be the final landscaping. The park is already being used by the neighbourhood and the works are being carried out in phases. Remediation work is already taking place in parts of it, while the final fencing and access to the park are already being installed.
In the longer term, Park West will grow into a forest-rich and mMultifunctional urban park of 3 hectares, designed by architectural firm Studio Paula Vigano, in close consultation with local residents. That project also includes the construction of the cycle and footpath through the site and a pedestrian bridge connecting the park to the future Beekkantplein.
