YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
"Sports bring people together, encourage dialogue and acceptance. These are exceptionally valuable characteristics." This quote from a speech by Pope Francis to the International Olympic Committee makes the societal significance of sports very clear. The overwhelming majority of sports funding still comes from councils and districts in Germany, through the provision of funds for athletic and recreational infrastructure, the support of associations in manifold ways and, finally, through the council and athletic administration, which is positioned differently from council to council and district to district. As a result of demographic change, it is becoming more and more important to understand the task of design, and not just the task of administration, when it comes to athletics. The implementation of a cooperative sports development plan and its management are critical and forward-thinking elements of success – particularly in times of great financial need for many cities and municipalities in Germany.
Sports development planning in Viernheim (South Hessen, approx. 33,000 residents) has, since 2008, formulated the desire to redesign one of the three football facilities in the city into an open, family-oriented and multi-generational sports park – in addition to many other prioritized project ideas related to availability, organization and infrastructure.
A working group composed of associations, youth, seniors and administrative representatives of government under the direction of the Council Recreation and Athletics Office took on this challenge. The group developed a concept based on a ten-year plan, new conversion and/or financing models and volunteer collaboration. The first phase of the plan for the future Viernheim Family Sports Park is to include a multi-generational exercise course, a Kneipp hydrotherapy pool, a playground for small children, a BMX course, a learning path for bicycling and an obstacle course for the senses. It was and remains critical that as many generations as possible participate in the ideas and the concept.
Before incorporating the multi-generational exercise course into the family sports park, the general question of location in the city had to be discussed, since placement directly in the residential quarters was clearly desirable. There were numerous – and, ultimately, decisive – counterarguments, however, one being that seniors did not want to feel as if they were on display while exercising. As well, the football field, enclosed by a fence and a gate, offered many advantages as a location for the family sports park – one being that it would keep vandalism-related damages to a minimum. The existing infrastructure, with sanitation facilities in the buildings of the former football facility, also helped the location gain acceptance.
It is important, of course, that the area located directly at the western edge of the city is easily accessible to people of all ages and families by bus, bicycle, on foot or by car. Another plus for incorporating the multi-generational exercise course into the family sports park were the additional exercise options that already exist at the location or are to be developed there – the above-mentioned hydrotherapy facility, for example, which was built voluntarily by retired masons. The diversity of options helps offset the minor hassle of reaching the location. Who knows, perhaps they may create a kind of multi-generational café on the location someday, which would only increase the attractiveness of the location even more.
Financing
With respect to financing, it was clear from the very start that it was not possible for the council budget to fund completely the planned 14 stations of the multi-generational exercise course. For this reason, the Council Recreational and Athletics Office, as the leading member of the group, recommended that the council take on one-third of the approx. € 80,000 in total costs and seek partners or sponsors for the individual stations that could finance the remaining two-thirds. This model functioned very well, and very quickly. In return, all sponsors were honoured on the individual station signs; they were named in the public relations material for the inauguration and were able to open their station themselves. The employees of these companies and organizations also have access to exercise-oriented incentives at any time in the family sports park.
While the financing model was implemented very quickly, some bitterness remains vis-à-vis the long path of development for the multi-generational exercise course project in Viernheim: from idea to inauguration, it took three years. However, this took place with sustainable, community-based decision making, which has most definitely secured the future success of the project.
The strategic and continual outreach work and customized options are an absolute must for the long-term success of the new park for the residents and the city. Two retired exercise instructors are available to groups that want to learn how to use the multi-generational exercise course and to child-care workers and teachers that want sports-related exercise instruction. A customized information flyer is in constant and targeted use for communication measures. Since 2010, a Family Sports Day has taken place in September of each year. Various associations plan group activities, a family Olympics and shows. The multi-generational exercise course is a critical component of the program for the day.
Naturally, day-to-day use is a critical indicator of success for the multi-generational exercise course and the entire family sports park to the administration and all those involved in the project. The unexpectedly large degree of acceptance and appreciation since the park's opening in 2012 made it such that the volunteer groundskeepers have to maintain the location hourly during the day, and not just in the evenings and on the weekend. A building services employee from the town hall has made sure that everything is in order since 2013. As of the spring 2014, a usage survey is to take place in collaboration with the associations.
Another big goal is to ensure that the park is up-to-par in terms of inclusion. In the next work phase, a concept will be created collaboratively that is based on realization with the corresponding funds and subsidies. In the end, a high degree of creativity in the collaboration between politics, administration, sports associations and citizens will definitely be necessary.
Let's hope for the future that the comprehensive cooperation agreements "Stronger Sports – Stronger Cities and Municipalities" on the federal and district level are helpful for the diverse ideas of the City of Viernheim and its sports development planning.
Photos: Council Recreation and Athletics Office, City of Viernheim
