Ashkelon on Tuesday held the official launch of a new lion-shaped playground at Ashkelon Eco Park, described by the city and contractor Elo & Nitzan as the largest play structure in Israel and the world. The complex, opened after a soft launch, aims to provide an inclusive, multi-sensory play experience for families, the municipality, and the company, they said.
The installation, designed and built by Elo & Nitzan, spans about 1.5 dunams (roughly 0.37 acres) and rises to approximately 13 meters. It combines advanced play elements with natural surroundings at the city’s flagship park, according to the partners.
Design and features
At the center stands a tiered climbing tower connected to seven “mane” tunnels, with entry points at multiple difficulty levels. From the top, children reach two long tube slides descending to the lower park, with one exit through the lion’s mouth, the company said.
Suspended climbing nets surround the tower, offering varied climbing routes and a vantage point over the park’s lake and the city. The layout is intended to build confidence and spatial awareness while keeping traffic flowing through the structure.
The front “paws” area features equipment tailored for toddlers and children with disabilities, including accessible slides, sensory panels, stepping stones, and ring swings. The wider plaza adds an inclusive carousel with wheelchair access, musical play stations, a 360-degree swing, a wheelchair-accessible slide, and additional seated spinners, the company said.
A separate swing arch offers family-oriented seats, including a couch-style harness seat, a nest swing, and face-to-face seats, and can also be climbed on its interior framework.
Shade, lighting and hourly show
Integrated canopies shade the tunnels and all play zones as part of the structure’s envelope. Lighting is embedded across the frame and inside the tunnels up to the lion’s head, illuminating the silhouette at night in shifting colors.
Dozens of lights and speakers create a recurring light-and-sound program across the site. Every hour, the municipality announces a colorful show that features synchronized music and lighting effects throughout the installation.
“We are proud to inaugurate the largest and most impressive playground complex at Ashkelon Eco Park,” Mayor Tomer Glam said. “This innovative project combines advanced play with a connection to nature, part of our ongoing investment in high-quality public facilities for residents of all ages.”
“We are proud to lead the creation of the Lion at Ashkelon Eco Park,” said Helen Ruth Nitzan, founder and CEO of Elo & Nitzan. “Planned and developed in our Israeli design studio, it delivers a multi-sensory, fully accessible play experience intended to spark imagination and serve families of all abilities.”
Ashkelon has stepped up public investment and development projects recently, including major industrial and cultural initiatives.