Limassol mayor proposes expanding forest park into recruitment training centre land

Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis has submitted a proposal to Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas to incorporate 40,000 to 50,000 square metres of land currently occupied by the Limassol recruitment training centre (KEN) into the Polemidia Forest Park in Ayia Fyla. The proposal is intended as the first step toward creating a larger metropolitan park for Limassol. Mayor Armeftis stated that the municipality identified unused plots belonging to the defence ministry and mapped them for consideration. The mayor emphasized the goal of creating green spaces and infrastructure for public recreational activities such as running and walking. He described his initial contact with the defence minister as exploratory, noting that the ministry has committed to reviewing the plans. Furthermore, Armeftis referenced a 2025 meeting with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou regarding the Ayia Fyla forest area, which falls under her ministry's jurisdiction. The mayor argued that relocating military infrastructure from urban areas is consistent with international urban planning practices.