Covering 400 hectares, Georges-Valbon Departmental Park, more commonly known as La Courneuve Park, is the third biggest green space in Île-de-France. Spanning five municipalities, four of which are in Seine-Saint-Denis, in 1930 it began to replace the cereal crops that had been farmed there since the Middle Ages.
Inhabited by many different species, this Natura 2000 listed park stands out for the diversity of its natural landscapes. Meadows, woodlands, flower gardens, marshes and lakes are home to a wealth of plants and wildlife. A number of trees have been listed as "remarkable": ginkgo biloba, plane tree, black pine and giant sequoia. The Valley of Flowers offers nearly a hectare of colours and scents, in particular the rose garden, where 15,000 rose bushes of a hundred or so species thrive. An educational garden, an experimental site for vegetable and herb gardening, is used for nature-themed events.
The fauna is just as abundant as the flora. The park is home to over 140 bird species, including some lesser-known species such as the Eurasian bittern and the little grebe, and attracts many migratory birds every year. Foxes, stone martens and weasels, among other species, populate these vast natural areas.
As well as the UCPA equestrian centre, the park has many facilities for leisure and sports activities: 4 jogging trails, 8 orienteering trails, a 16-stop sports trail, nature trails, cycle paths, hiking paths and ping-pong tables. There are playgrounds, a merry-go-round and giant water jets for children, and from Easter to September you can also enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides with the kids. Near one of the lakes, the belvedere offers a lovely view of the park and Paris.
Every weekend, there are free activities and exhibitions at the Maison Victoria Montou and Maison Edouard Glissant, two covered spaces dedicated to cultural activity. Events take place every year in La Courneuve Park, such as "Rendez-vous au jardin" in early June or "1.9.3. Soleil !" in May and June for the little ones. In 2021, the park hosted the legendary Festival of Humanity for the last time before it relocated to Essonne.