Parc Zénith: an industrial wasteland turned green haven
In Lyon's 3rd arrondissement, Parc Zénith unfolds 8,731 m² of greenery on the site of the former "Friche RVI". Bordered by Rue Feuillat, Rue Félix Rollet, Rue du Professeur Rochaix and Avenue Lacassagne, it is a perfect illustration of how Lyon reinvents its old industrial sites as neighbourhood green spaces. Practical and unassuming, it is the kind of park where locals come to breathe, and a welcome stop for anyone exploring eastern Lyon.
From the RVI wasteland to a park
Parc Zénith was created on the site of the former "Friche RVI", a reminder of this part of the 3rd arrondissement's industrial past. Turning a wasteland into a green space gives the neighbourhood back a breathing room and a new use, while closing the chapter on a bygone activity. At 8,731 m², the park offers a comfortable size for a local space. For the walker, it is a concrete illustration of contemporary Lyon, stitching its urban fabric back together by multiplying pockets of greenery where buildings once stood.
A well-framed neighbourhood park
Well embedded in the urban fabric, Parc Zénith is bordered by Rue Feuillat, Rue Félix Rollet and Rue du Professeur Rochaix, as well as Avenue Lacassagne. This location makes it easy to spot and reach on foot for people living nearby. You step in as if opening a door onto a little calm, away from the traffic. That is exactly the strength of these local parks: you don't seek them out from afar, they slip into daily life and offer, round a street corner, a green parenthesis open to all.
To breathe in eastern Lyon
Parc Zénith is not a major tourist destination, and that is precisely its charm. It belongs to everyday Lyon, the city you discover by taking the time to step away from the marked routes. For a curious traveller, it is a chance to see how the city really lives, far from the postcards. You settle there for a while, especially in the warmer months, before heading on towards the other parks and neighbourhoods of the 3rd arrondissement.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Parc Zénith?
In Lyon's 3rd arrondissement, between Rue Feuillat, Rue Félix Rollet, Rue du Professeur Rochaix and Avenue Lacassagne.
What was there before the park?
The park was laid out on the site of the former "Friche RVI", an industrial site converted into a neighbourhood green space of about 8,731 m².
Is it worth it for a visitor?
It is above all a peaceful neighbourhood park, perfect for an outdoor break during a walk in the 3rd arrondissement and for discovering everyday Lyon, away from the tourist trails.
Wikimedia Commons — Sebleouf
