Editing Maastricht (section)

== Nature ==
[[File:Maastricht.jpg|thumb|A pond in ''Stadspark'', Maastricht's main park]]
[[File:20130504 Maastricht Céramique 09 Charles Eyckpark.JPG|thumb|Relaxing in Charles Eyckpark]]
[[File:SintPietersbergSchaapskudde007.jpg|thumb|Sheep on [[Mount Saint Peter]]]]
[[File:Jekerdal met Wijngaarden.jpg|thumb|Jeker valley with vineyards]]

=== Parks ===
There are several city parks and recreational areas in Maastricht:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Parks_in_Maastricht|title=Category:Parks in Maastricht - Wikimedia Commons|website=commons.wikimedia.org}}</ref>
* Stadspark, the main public park in Maastricht, partly 19th-century, with remnants of the medieval city walls, a branch of the [[Jeker]] river, a mini-zoo and several public sculptures (e.g. the statue of [[d'Artagnan]] in Aldenhofpark, a 20th-century extension of Stadspark). Other extensions of the park are called Kempland, Henri Hermanspark, Monseigneur Nolenspark and Waldeckpark. From 2014 onwards, the grounds of the former Tapijn military barracks will be gradually added to the park;
* Jekerpark, a new park along the river Jeker, separated from Stadspark by a busy road;
* Frontenpark, a new park west of the city centre, incorporating parts of the [[fortifications]] of Maastricht from the 17th to 19th centuries;
* Charles Eykpark, a modern park between the public library and [[Bonnefanten Museum]] on the east bank of the Meuse river, designed in the late 1990s by Swedish landscape architect [[Gunnar Martinsson]].
* Griendpark, a modern park on the east bank of the river with an inline-skating and skateboarding course.
* Geusseltpark in eastern Maastricht and J.J. van de Vennepark in western Maastricht, both with elaborate sports facilities.

=== Natural areas ===
* The Meuse river and its green banks in outlying areas. In the northern areas around [[Itteren]] and [[Borgharen]] 'new nature' is being created in combination with river protection measures and gravel mining.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Meuse_River_in_Maastricht|title=Category:Meuse River in Maastricht - Wikimedia Commons|website=commons.wikimedia.org}}</ref>
* Pietersplas, an artificial lake between Maastricht and [[Gronsveld]] that was the result of gravel pits on the banks of the Meuse river. There is a beach on the northern slope of the lake and a [[marina]] near Castle Hoogenweerth. The eastern riverbed between Pietersplas and the provincial government building is a nature reserve (Kleine Weerd).
* The Jeker Valley, along the river [[Jeker]], starts near the city centre in Stadspark and leads via Jekerpark to an area with green meadows, fertile fields, some vineyards on the slopes of Cannerberg, several water mills and [[Château Neercanne]], and continues further south into Belgium.
* The green flanks of [[Mount Saint Peter]], including many footpaths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sint_Pietersberg|title=Category:Sint Pietersberg - Wikimedia Commons|website=commons.wikimedia.org}}</ref> 
* Dousberg and Zouwdal, a modest hill and valley surrounded by urban development on the western edge of the city, partly in Belgium. A large part of the hill is now in use as an international golf course (Golfclub Maastricht).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Dousberg|title=Category:Dousberg - Wikimedia Commons|website=commons.wikimedia.org}}</ref>
* Landgoederenzone, an extended area in the northeast of Maastricht (partly in [[Meerssen]]) consisting of around fifteen country estates, such as Severen, Geusselt, Bethlehem, Mariënwaard, Kruisdonk, Vaeshartelt, Meerssenhoven, [[Borgharen]] and Hartelstein. Some of the castles, villas and stately homes are surrounded by industrial areas or quarries.
* Bike paths through agricultural areas in several outlying quarters (like "Biesland" and "Wolder").