The planned park will cover approximately 950 dunams in the Kishon estuary area, stretching from the Shavit Marina to Highway 4. It is expected to serve as an urban nature park for residents of Haifa and northern Israel. The site, which has suffered years of environmental and industrial degradation, is now set to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation and development process. This will include the creation of leisure, sports, education, research, and recreation areas, as well as the restoration of open ecological zones.
Maayan Zion (Kishon River Authority), Eyal Ostrinsky (KKL-JNF) and Yuval Admon (Haifa Bay Development Directorate) at the Hafia Bay Development Conference, June 10, 2026. Courtesy: Maayan Zion, Kishon River Authority
In the first phase, KKL-JNF will fund work in Park HaMalacha and Park HaNarkissim (Narcissus Park), as well as a range of broader ecological restoration initiatives. Future phases of the project are expected to include upgrading the existing park, restoring the sand-dune landscape, constructing an open-air amphitheater, and developing additional facilities within the park.
The total cost of the project is estimated at around NIS 118 million (~$32 million), with the Kishon River Authority contributing NIS 9 million. KKL-JNF’s share will amount to NIS 100 million over five years, subject to approvals and implementation progress.
Eyal Ostrinsky (KKL-JNF) and Maayan Zion (Kishon River Authority) at the Haifa Bay Development Conference, June 10, 2026. Courtesy: Maayan Zion, Kishon River Authority
“The Lower Kishon is one of the most symbolic landscapes in Haifa Bay – a site that has suffered years of environmental damage and is now poised to become a hub for nature, community, and recreation for hundreds of thousands of residents,” said Eyal Ostrinsky, Chairman of KKL-JNF. “This decision reflects KKL-JNF’s ongoing commitment to restoring accessible, open, and rehabilitated public spaces.”
KKL-JNF described the initiative as a project of national significance, aimed at improving the quality of life in the Haifa metropolitan area, expanding access to nature in a densely populated region, and supporting the continued regeneration of Haifa Bay.