Agen - the "Gravel Garden"

Firstly, I'm not entirely sure how to translate 'Jardin du Gravier' into English. While 'gravier' means 'gravel', locally it also refers to 'an area near the river with gravel deposits'. Does it have the same meaning in English?In any case, as you may already know, Agen is my hometown and I love this picture because it shows a place I'm very familiar with. When I was a child, lots of events were held there, such as circuses, fairs and Bastille Day fireworks. I believe it sees less activity nowadays, as a large event and exhibition space was built to the south of the city around 20 years ago.The place is now called the Esplanade du Gravier and hasn't changed much, except for a wall (and a road) that now separates the esplanade from the Garonne River. This wall serves as a dyke to prevent the river from flooding the city. This was a common occurrence since time immemorial, but it stopped for a few decades. Nowadays, however, the climate crisis is changing everything. Last winter, major…