Say no to junk food at Antalya children's village

Stretching over 16,000 square meters, a giant children's village under construction in the coastal city of Antalya is scheduled to open its doors in August. With an TL 8 million ($2.756 million) investment, the children's village, "Teneffüs Park," will prohibit junk food and fizzy drinks and encourage children to eat healthier. The village is situated in the city's Muratpaşa district and is an attempt to combine natural and modern life in an effective way.

Mayor Ümit Uysal said that the facility has been designed in line with children's needs. "The food businesses that will operate in the facility cannot sell fast food as we want to put the spotlight on unhealthy eating among children and its unfavorable consequences," Uysal said.

Run by a municipal company, the children's village helps local children escape the trappings of technology for a short time and engage in nature. An exemplary archaeological excavation area where children can receive information by a group of experts as well as a vitamin bar and small agricultural areas will be available. The children's village is expected to attract 1 million visitors annually, with more than 300,000 of them children. İbrahim Güney, the General Manager of Falez A.Ş., said that children can play as much as they wish at the facility, which is equipped with both modern and traditional toys. "After school, they can come and spend time here. This is what we aim to achieve," Güney concluded.