Ashkelon Unveils Rafael Eitan Promenade to Revitalize Northern Coastline
Ashkelon has inaugurated the Rafael Eitan Promenade along its northern coastline, creating a 12-kilometer leisure and recreation corridor that connects the city to the sea.
Ashkelon is advancing its urban landscape with the development of the Rafael Eitan Promenade, a major project designed to connect the city with its northern coastline and enhance public leisure spaces. Stretching along the seafront, the promenade is part of a broader municipal vision to develop roughly 12 kilometers of coastline, transforming it into an active, accessible hub for recreation, sports, and tourism.
The planning challenge involved introducing active public spaces without disrupting the natural environment, including sand dunes, kurkar ridges, and coastal vegetation. The solution integrates walking and cycling paths, fitness zones, shaded pergolas, and expansive lawns facing the sea. A key element of the architectural design is the specialized paving, featuring polygonal stones that create an organic aesthetic mimicking the local topography.
Amit Sde, CEO of the Ashkelon Economic Corporation, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative. "The development of the Rafael Eitan Promenade is part of a broad effort to strengthen the connection between the city and the sea, turning the coastline into an active and accessible public space," Sde stated. "Beyond physical development, the promenade creates a space for gathering, leisure, and daily activity, contributing to residents' quality of life."
Architect Benny Shadmi from Makom Plus noted that the design philosophy relied on blending urban intervention with the existing natural landscape. The polygonal paving in two shades provides high durability against marine conditions such as salinity, sand, and strong sea winds, while ensuring long-term maintenance ease and establishing a unique identity for one of Israel's most striking renewed coastal strips.
