20.06.2011 - Ausgabe: 3/2011

Saving in the playground?

Nelson Mandela is quoted as saying: "The humanity of a society is shown by how it treats its children and old people." Playground@Landscape asks around in the communes.

Harald Martenstein, a columnist in the Berlin Tagespiegel newspaper called the capital the "Mogadishu" of Europe" and a “failing state" because of the dreadful state of the infrastructure. Only the return of the Allies could be of any help. Or Blue Berets.
Are all communes hard-up?

The positive results of the current tax estimate show that the economy is developing well. "Despite the forecast additional tax receipts the situation in the communes, however, remains fraught," said Dr. Gerd Landsberg, Chief Executive Officer of the German Association of Towns and Cities, in Berlin. "The economic recovery is not bringing the desperately needed relief on the expenditure front," stated Landsberg. Christian Ude, the President of the Association of German Cities and Towns, the Lord Mayor of Munich said: "We are happy to accept the results of tax estimates, which forecast higher incomes for the communes. So soon after the financial and economic crisis this is good news. It shows in particular how quickly the business tax, the demise of which some people had already predicted, can recover. However, despite our delight in the economic recovery, there is no room for euphoria. There are still many towns and cities where things continue to go badly. The ways and means advances, which Germany's communes had to take out, in order to cope with their running expenses, have increased in the meantime to over 40 billion Euros. This is double the figure in 2004."

"Even when the towns and cities need to save, they must nonetheless maintain their playing spaces. However, the German system is extremely prescriptive and puts the towns and cities in a strait jacket," says the urban economist, Martin Junkernheinrich from the Kaiserslautern Technical University.

The media are running stories about communes taking a red pen to spending on children’s playgrounds. City playgrounds are being closed, in order to save on the cost of their maintenance. Or even, in order to be sold off as building plots. Recent figures from Warendorf und Gütersloh are examples. In both towns a total of 40 children's playgrounds are being abandoned. But not every town is in a hurry to slash playgrounds. "In Soest nothing of the kind is planned," we are assured by press spokesperson, Klaus Peter Knäpper. And that, despite maintenance and cleaning costing the City coffers 375,000 Euros per annum. Lüdenscheid is another town, where, despite a fraught budgetary situation, there are no plans to make do without children’s playgrounds. And the story is different elsewhere: "Offenbach is investing in playgrounds." A publication dated 17.5.2011 from the city of Offenbach.

“Franconian Field Study”

Last hope Rednitzhembach? This commune near Nuremburg has 7,000 inhabitants. The Mayor, Jürgen Spahl says: "We have balanced our budget."
Positive messages like this are printed in much smaller letters. For usually it is only the bad news that make the front page.
"Fürth takes the red pen to playgrounds" (Nürnberger Nachrichten, 5.3.2011)."Five playgrounds in Fürth are being decommissioned (www.nordbayern.de, 4.4.2011): However, according to Lord Mayor, Thomas Jung, making savings is not their main concern. Rather, we want to concentrate on projects, which have also been adopted." And the town of Fürth has just invested in a computer system for the systematic cataloguing of playgrounds, and the City is taking over all matters concerning the safety of playgrounds. An exemplary City!
Susanne Kramer from Fürth City Council says: "In 2011 in the Fürth City area a new playground was installed in every new housing estate. The tendency in the commune is directed at constructing for the first time in the City area a playground suitable for all ages, with contributions from the town's Jugendring Clubs and an investment of some 100,000 Euros. In other respects we are prepared as an administration to close down small play areas, which are unattractive and are no longer in use, in favour of developing larger, more attractive playgrounds. For this, we do not intend to designate the land gained in this way as constructible land; we intend either to return it to a natural state or to convert it for instance for further use as nursery facilities.

In Erlangen playgrounds are also a topic in the news. "Making savings to the detriment of being a child-friendly city" (www.nordbayern.de, 3.12.2010). "Saving money in order to improve facilities" (www.nordbayern.de, 26.11.2010): “The proposal which has now been presented to the Erlangen City Council is bold: decreasing the number of playgrounds and reducing the total area of leisure facilities for children. This is the proposal from the consultancy firm of Rödl & Partner. Rödl & Partner hope to gain considerably by this Even the required savings, if the idea is implemented. For 2013 the required savings will be 324,000 Euros, and in subsequent years a round million Euros. And moreover a higher quality of play area facilities, by having special ‘beacon’ playing spaces.”

“Rödl & Partner is heavily involved in the area of budget consolidation for Cities and communes. For this purpose proposals in in-depth expert reports are prepared, which are then, however, examined and implemented by the client. To what extent children's playgrounds can be seen as having "savings potential" can be decided only by the respective communes or possibly the associations in the communes. As regards the clients Rödl & Partner themselves can unfortunately not give any opinion", according to Matthias Struwe, Eye Communications, PR contact for Rödl & Partner GbR.

The youth welfare panel in the city of Erlangen gave a vehement 'No!' to the consultancy firm's proposal to shut down more than a third of the 111 playgrounds and leisure sports facilities and instead to equip a few 'beacon areas' with kiosks and toilets. "Children' playgrounds are the most important factor in making a town child-friendly. Erlangen stands right at the top of the Federal tree in this respect," said youth welfare planner, Stefan Käs, getting right to the heart of the matter under discussion. If we want to keep Erlangen an attractive place for families, expense must not be spared, he added.

67 per cent of those participating in an on-line survey on nordbayern.de were for larger playgrounds. 16 percent were of the opinion that small, well equipped playgrounds were also acceptable. 17 per cent saw no reason to change anything. Upshot: The majority of participants want more playgrounds, which are bigger and suitable for children.

Further statements from decision-makers in Franconian communes

Dietmar Radde, City of Erlangen:
"In the renovation of older playing areas in Erlangen emphasis is laid on the creation of landscaped gardens, relating to the quality of experience there, on high quality, durable play equipment and the need for maintenance of the area to be cost-effective. In addition in the coming years new play areas will be constructed, since Erlangen is continuing to allocate land to new housing estates and many young families settle in Erlangen. Fairly major redevelopment or upgrading is being undertaken with public participation with one exception.
The creation and equipping of play areas is being developed separately with public participation for every project. Trends hardly make any difference in this. There has been heightened demand for trampolines in the last few years. There is no call for futuristic parks and designs.
There is hardly ever any role for themed playgrounds since themes very seldom spring to mind and even when they do, they cannot be funded for reasons of cost.
The discussion about the creation of fitness trails or multi-generation playgrounds is still in its infancy, but will be a topic for debate in the years to come.
The demolition of playgrounds is out of the question in Erlangen. Thus, at the beginning of 2011 the proposal to the City Council by an external consultant, to save costs in staffing and operating expenses for maintenance by demolishing playgrounds was rejected. The decision was made to revise the existing play area concept (without savings measures, but by keeping a close eye on economic factors.)
Since the citizens as well as the associations and initiatives, especially in youth work and work with younger children, are involved in the discussion about the new play areas concept and Erlangen will, furthermore, remain a "young" town, even in the years to come there will be no question of demolishing play areas on a grand scale.”

Rudolf Zeevaert, City of Nuremberg:
"At present, playground planning in Nuremberg is often focused on the current situation in individual cases. Whether it is a playground themed around Mammut (an association with the name of the machine factory which formerly had its premises there), whether the existing terrain is used for play activities and this is skilfully and specifically complemented with play equipment developed for this site, or artistically created play facilities with high play value are developed, these are just a few of the creative trends in Nuremberg. However, it is always children and young people who come up with the ideas, who exert a strong influence on the creation of THEIR playground, for in the end it is they who should be having fun with the facilities and be feeling happy. Therefore, for example young people, together with an experienced architect, have developed their own inimitable dugout, which they were allowed to help create in the autumn.
In Nuremberg we are pleased that we can still escape the hysteria, which takes up the red pen and deletes playgrounds. Newspaper reports ( which do not always reflect the truth) from neighbouring Fürth and elsewhere could work like a contagion, to persuade others that playgrounds should be abolished for economic reasons. Judging the value of our children solely in economic terms is not only harmful to society, but also runs counter to the healthy development of our society. A quotation from Nelson Mandela makes this point exactly: "The humanity of a society is shown by how it treats its children and old people." Let us then do something towards a humane society! In Nuremberg planning has begun for a further outdoor gym for all ages.”

Ralf Klein, City of Zirndorf:
"In the last three years Zirndorf has invested a lot of money in attractive leisure facilities. Thus we have completed a 1.5 hectare play area with highlights like inner city play equipment, a fitness trail for all ages, artistically designed playground, including an artificial turf football area and Nordic Walking trails to provide the ultimate in high quality leisure points.
The future trend in play area development, as I see it, will be in active play, and in this, rope play equipment will continue to be important. The demand for facilities to encompass all ages will continue; our experiences with such aspects of leisure are very positive.
Our budget enables us to carry out general annual maintenance of a playground as well as replacing play equipment in our total stock. Zirndorf's policy of giving priority to being child-friendly and attractive to tourists does not, in my view, anticipate any medium-term cut-backs in playgrounds. A mountain-bike trail is envisaged for 2011. The planning of this will involve future users for the improvement of acceptance and as protection against vandalism.
I foresee the major financial demand on the community being the provision of day nursery places, which are sorely needed. Our department must facilitate the construction and maintenance of the playgrounds which will be needed for this purpose.
The dismantling of an existing playground is only justifiable, if an old playground, which is unused because it is unattractive, is replaced by a newly built one in the close vicinity. Closing down a playground for reasons of cost or turning it into constructible land would be short-sighted, for resettlement creates both new demand for open spaces and also new investment requirements.
Zirndorf structural data: 25,000 inhabitants, 40 public playgrounds or football areas, 18 playgrounds in schools and nurseries.”

Herbert Fuchs, City of Forchheim:
"The town of Forchheim maintains at present 73 play facilities and football areas. Measured against its population of 30,000 inhabitants, the town of Forchheim is far above the average for play facilities in other towns. Communes have already taken on the task of ensuring that playgrounds are used, for it makes no sense to maintain a playground which is not being used and to incur thereby high maintenance costs.
For example, last year a school playground was equipped with play equipment and it is now available to the whole community; therefore, another playground, which was hardly used, was taken out of use. The City Council and the citizens all understand why such decisions are taken.
In 2010 a lot of money was invested and therefore the budget for 2011 was not so lavish. The investment plan for 2012 once more envisages more money for playgrounds in our beautiful town.
We are trying to budget for maintenance even as we build new playgrounds. This is an advantage, if new construction and maintenance are dealt with by one office. However, money will not be spared on the maintenance and safety of playgrounds. We have our own playground team of trained staff, who take care of safety in our playgrounds. Therefore, our citizens can feel secure.
In our City Park with its historic walls there are several items of outdoor fitness equipment that do brisk business. A good investment for citizens of all ages. The town of Forchheim is well equipped for the future in terms of playgrounds."

Christiane Zinoni-Peschel, City of Coburg:
"In 2010 we planned and built the first "play yard" in a primary school in the inner city; it is used by the school and as a public playground and is very well accepted. Moreover, there are many play points in the inner city, which have been instigated by the Working Party for a Child-friendly Inner City. Equipment includes a walk-in kaleidoscope, a wheelchair carrousel, equipment for sensory perception games.
In 2009 we opened our "Multi-generation Playground” in the Hofgarten. This involved the Town of Coburg Arbeiterwohlfahrt Multi-generation House and the nursery, which are located nearby. There is an outdoor gym trail, which was developed with medical advice especially for older people and children and sensory perception games, such as a barefoot path. The young children especially use this; the elderly people go there with the assistants from their residences.
We also installed a new fitness trail in a very convenient playground in the district of Scheuerfeld. We worked with the Sports Authority on the promotion of this playground. In addition there is a fitness trail in the forest, which is well known and appreciated.
From 2011 the budgetary position of Coburg City Council has markedly deteriorated, and for this reason this year fewer playgrounds will be renovated than was planned. From a total of some 41 playgrounds and 25 football areas, on average four playgrounds are renovated annually; this year we will be able to renovate only two.”

Dieter Müller, City of Würzburg:
"The city of Würzburg which currently has a population of 133,000 inhabitants possesses 530 hectares of public green spaces. In addition there are 1,000 hectares of City forest. The proportion of the total area devoted to playgrounds is 27 hectares and includes 168 play areas including playgrounds – a growing trend.
In 1991 when the new Child and Youth Welfare Act came into force, Würzburg introduced a test of family friendliness. Family friendliness is the aim of all our attempts to optimize the location factor of a commune, to make possible integration of all the generations. Families should feel at home in the city and their interests and
needs should be taken seriously.
The families in the City Working Party is the body which liaises with planners and the decision-makers in the communes.
The Parks Department has produced a play point plan for the inner city showing a total of 18 play points on the urban axes. The project was achieved on a budget supplemented by sponsorship. In the meantime four play points have been created.
Social City Project: In the Heuchelhof and Zellerau districts the Federal and State Social City Project made it possible to undertake more ambitious projects.
Zellerau: Play strip in the Main water meadows 105,000 € (2010)
Heuchelhof: Outdoor gym 830,000 € (2010/2011)
1500 m² of plastic surfaces with a possible 3.00 metre fall height in an artificial landscape full of adventures. There is also slack-lining equipment.
Play areas were also converted into themed playgrounds in 2010/2011 in accordance with development plans. (The Snake: production costs 110,000 €. Pile village in a retention area production costs 120,000 €).
City play facilities are converted each year under the heading of participation projects, which are also laid out as a training construction site for gardening and landscaping apprentices.
In order to respond more specifically to the demographic changes, from 2011 the City of Würzburg is going to develop a requirement plan for open spaces and play areas.
Because of the well-established family compatibility test in Würzburg, there is currently absolutely no question of demolition and “sales". The forthcoming analysis of open spaces with play facilities will give information about future needs and makeup of the various interest groups. The theme of multi-generation spaces is achieved in cooperation with the various organizations and associations as appropriate in individual cases and for the surrounding residential area.
There will be no open air "fitness studios" as such.”

Further statements from commune decision-makers
Renate Kraft, City of Vienna:
"At the moment in Vienna I can discern no tendency to dismantle playgrounds. Quite the contrary. Increasingly high quality playgrounds are being planned and constructed or converted in response to various points of view, such as gender equality, accessibility, generational equality etc. The leisure educational facilities, such as the Vienna Park Supervision Scheme are being further implemented and despite tight budgets are even being extended.
The city has set up an additional project for communication and mediation, the Fair-Play-Team, which is intended to support the fair use of public spaces.
Furthermore, at present in Vienna there are several working parties spanning various departments and sections, which deal from various viewpoints with the public spaces, their creation and use or the social work in these public spaces (Play in the City / children, the gemma raus scheme to promote exercise for elderly people / SeniorInnen, physical and social phenomena which make older people feel insecure and how the City planners respond, social work in public spaces). This last working party has commissioned a glossary to explain the central concepts of social work in Vienna's (partly) public spaces, in order to make it easier for everyone to work together.
"Free space for everyone" is the exhibition, which is currently running in the Vienna planning workshop.
I am especially pleased that we are proceeding further along the already well-trodden path of a combination of a good high quality infrastructure and social facilities in the public space in Vienna. And I am also happy that the trend to include our citizens in planning is being encouraged."

Hubert Schulze Althoff, City of Warendorf:
"Less can also be more! The town of Warendorf in the heart of the Münsterland, with about 38,800 inhabitants in six districts and a total area of 176 m2 maintains to date 86 playgrounds in all. (Situation as at: 31.12.2010) As part of the budget consolidation process of 2010 the Warendorf City Council decided at the end of 2010 to close 21 playgrounds. Before the decision was taken the administration ascertained how much the playgrounds concerned were used, how they were equipped, how far away each was from the nearest playground, how accessible they were and based their decision on the findings. The subsequent use of the land played no part in the factors leading to a decision to close a playground. However, because of the many interested parties, it was also ascertained whether the fallow parcels of land could be sold as constructible land. The predominant aim was still to reduce the high staff costs of the Parks and Gardens Department, resulting from maintenance and inspection of playgrounds.
During the public consultation in the political committees there was constant news coverage in the local media; there was, however, an absence of more vociferous protest. As a counterbalance to the closure of playgrounds the Council guaranteed support for the policy of an increase in the budget for new play equipment. To date 14 playgrounds have been demolished. As a counterbalance, the Council has begun to stock other playgrounds with new equipment. By mid-2010 it was possible to spend approximately 100,000 € to redesign the "Emseepark" playground in the centre of the Naherholung area as a Pirate Playground.”

Hilke Bergerstock, City of Hanover:
"In the State capital of Hanover there is a wealth of play and exercise facilities, both for children and young people, as well as for adults and the older people. There are well over 400 public play and football area in Hanover (see www.hannover.de, Key word Spielen (play), or www.hannover-gis.de ). The first public playground, the Wald-Kinder-Tummelplatz (WAKITU) had already been laid out at the end of the 19th century in the Eilenriede woods. Since then the facilities have been constantly upgraded and extended.
We make distinctions between different types of public playgrounds; there are play parks (particularly large and with buildings and educational staff), urban playgrounds (also somewhat larger fitted out with equipment for different age groups) district playgrounds (medium sized in residential areas) and nature playgrounds (playgrounds without "equipment", but fitted out using natural materials). In addition there are many football areas, in several places there are skate ramps, in the play parks there are often separate adventure playgrounds, where children can potter about with guidance.

Children and young people, together with their parents are involved in the planning of new facilities and major refurbishments and can participate in the construction, for example by creating individual elements of the play environment with mosaics or working with wood and sandstone.
The selection of play equipment is guided by criteria such as eco friendliness, durability, whether it is easy to repair and of course what the children want. Ropeways, swings, carrousels and multi-purpose play equipment with various facilities for climbing and sliding are extraordinarily popular. In Hanover in the last ten years alone, more than 150 playgrounds have been completely or partially renovated and several have been built from scratch.

Of course, just as elsewhere, the state of the finances in the communes in Hanover is anything but good, and we also have had to close down a few playgrounds. In choosing which to close we sought out those which offered the smallest potential for development over the long term (e.g. no space between the buildings) and we only closed a playground if there was a larger and better equipped playground nearby. Overall we made sure that a playground can be reached on foot in a 300 metre radius from any dwelling. In addition there are several places within the city area with fitness facilities for all age groups of specifically for older people (e.g. the fitness meadow in the Eilenriede woods or the multi-generation playground at the Ricklingen Community Centre), a high wire climbing garden in the WAKITU play area, jogging trails, cycle and bridle paths and probably in autumn 2011 the first disc golf course in Hanover will be constructed in a fairly large green corridor. Moreover, there are several places offering out-of-school activities, where children, young people and other interested parties can use the facilities and learn as they play, e.g. www.waldstation-eilenriede.de, www.kinderwald.de, www.schulbiologiezentrum-hannover.de.
Currently we are also working together with the Sports and Events Management sector on a plan for developing sporting opportunities, which will examine not only the club and district sports facilities, but which should also go further to include informal sports facilities on public land.
Hanover's target is to be a family-friendly city and we have already achieved a lot on this path with various different programmes.”

Dr. Cornelia Poenicke, City of Magdeburg:
“As we have always done, the State capital of Magdeburg maintains its investments in the sector of public play and leisure areas at a constantly high level. Based on the play spaces concept decided by the City Council, 490,000 Euros are set aside annually for refurbishment and construction of children's playgrounds in the borough. Politicians and administration have recognised the increasing importance of family-friendliness as a location factor for the town and are able therefore to respond very flexibly to the consequences of the demographic change.
Of course, the ideas of Magdeburg residents, both big and small, are taken into consideration in the creation of the spaces and the choice of play equipment. Everyone has the opportunity within participation projects to bring their ideas and wishes to the project. Theme-based projects, taking into consideration the needs of older age groups, have a central place in our planning. The construction of a second so-called multi-generation playground in Magdeburg's Rotehorn City Park was begun in April 2011 and there too, we are taking integrated thinking into consideration.
We think that by proceeding in this manner we will induce young families, especially, to stay in the town."

Stephan Heldmann, City of Frankfurt:
"In Frankfurt playgrounds for children, sports facilities for young people (skate parks, ball games) fitness trails for those with sporting ambitions aged between 20 and 50 years and older people's fitness facilities for the 50+ age group are being created.
All the types of facility mentioned have been based on consensus and approved in City policy for social intercourse and the quest for health in natural surroundings.
In rare cases playgrounds are also demolished in Frankfurt, but his happens for functional and not for financial reasons. Where, for example, the pattern of use has altered or the playground facilities or equipment have proved a failure, play equipment is centralised or stored.”

Volker Schirner, City of Stuttgart:
"The Future Our Children" The Lord Mayor’s construction schedule provides for the play space culture in the State capital of Stuttgart (LHS) “In Stuttgart there should be space for our children and young people to live in and open spaces for them to play in the open air." "In Stuttgart a contract between the generations should foster active and lasting cooperation between young and old." These statements can be read in the updated edition of the Programme for a Child-Friendly Stuttgart (Published by LHS, January 2009, p. 3) For Stuttgart’s Gardens, Cemeteries and Forest Department this means that they must concentrate intensively on preparing play spaces designed for various age groups. In the biennial budget some 6 million Euros have been set aside by the District Council for the approximately 500 existing playgrounds and the construction of new play spaces. The highest priority in this is, together with the residents and users, finding a suitable solution for their residential environment. In the last few years the emphasis has increasingly been put on facilities which provide something for people of all ages, so that spaces like these are already to be found in Stuttgart. Last year the "In den Gärten" playground, under the aegis of the Minister for Consumer Protection, Ilse Aigner, was awarded a prize by the "Green City” Foundation in the "Playgrounds in Green Cities" competition. The playground is a trend-setter for the playground vision in the City of Stuttgart, which envisages making them as close to nature as possible. The current development of so-called natural experience spaces being carried out jointly with Professor Konrad Reidl, Nürtingen-Geislingen University is especially worthy of mention.”

Hans-Peter Barz, City of Heilbronn:
"The Parks and Gardens Department of the City of Heilbronn propagates new directions in the creation of children's playgrounds and in creating play spaces which are close to nature. We foster "creative disorder" spaces in the city for discovery, for modification, communication spaces for play and sport, spaces for exercise which are full of life, open non-standardised sports fields for everyone. The emphasis in 2011 will be the inner city. For three years we have been running the "Playtime City" Project. In this suitable places in the inner city, especially in the pedestrian precincts are being gradually equipped with original play facilities, which have a theme connected with the place where they are located. We are also undertaking this project as part of our City marketing strategy, for families with children represent a significant segment of the market for inner city retailers. We would like, through our family-friendly and child-friendly spaces policy, to create better "customer loyalty» and thus become a "brand" where families are happy to buy. Satisfied children mean satisfied parents. Recreation and fun for the whole family leaves behind positive memories and motivates people to visit the city again. Of 12 possible locations we have completed five, which have proved to be extremely popular. In the 2011 fiscal year we have available to us a budget of 50,000.00 Euros for the completion of further aspects of the policy."

 photo: vortritt / photocase.com