The Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. In its heyday, it was a premier shopping destination and even called “the world’s most beautiful avenue.”

Many top companies still fight for retail space along the street and it still offers stunning views of the Arc de Triomphe, but locals say it has lost some of its splendor over the years, in part due to relentless traffic and air pollution. To revitalize this center of Paris, the city has decided to go ahead with a beautiful, green-minded transformation of the avenue. 

The Champs-Élysées committee has been mulling over changes for the street since 2018 and this year it brought the conversation to a public forum. The decision has been made to turn the area into a large community garden. This will involve reducing road space by half and turning it into green space. Reducing road space will also reduce the amount of traffic pollution generated by the eight-lane highway. 

According to The Guardian, the committee strives to make the space more “ecological, desirable and inclusive.” Reduced air pollution and more space to enjoy nature mean even more tourists and locals can enjoy the Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe, and surrounding areas.

The project will cost an estimated €250m and is set to begin after Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics. We will continue to follow this story as more project details are released. 

This story is part of our Best of 2021 series highlighting our top solutions from the year. Today we’re featuring environmental solutions.