Bürgel-Rumpenheim open space development concept

Due to its location directly on the river and its function as a floodplain, the focus here is on developing a floodplain landscape that is as close to nature as possible with forms of use appropriate to the location. This involves largely eliminating intensive forms of land use and converting erosion-prone arable land into grassland. At the same time, measures for the development of habitats appropriate to the location are proposed as part of an ecological enhancement (e.g. development of alluvial woodland, creation of small water bodies/amphibian ponds, creation of wetland biotopes in the area of existing wetland swales of former oxbow lakes, biotope development in the area of the former Main lock Mainkur).
With regard to recreational use, quiet recreation should be promoted here in future and intensive recreational activities should be restricted to water-related facilities or concentrated in areas close to settlements

Large sections of the Altmain arm already present themselves as a continuous and scenically attractive meadow valley. The aim here is to close existing gaps and widen the valley. Uses that are not suited to the location should be relocated and the development of species-rich grassland should be intensified. In the area of the slope edge, a strip of woodland should spatially define the meadow valley and ensure the greening of the development. The Kuhmühlgraben itself is to be given more scope for undisturbed watercourse development. Finally, an improved link between the Kuhmühl valley and the Main both south of Bürgel and in the area of the Rumpenheim castle park is essential.
With regard to the network of paths, the continuous footpath/cycle path following the valley will create an attractive link to the Main bend and a connection to the Main riverside path, which is of supra-regional importance. Smaller recreational areas at forks in the path complement the recreational offer and enhance it further; a larger one is to be created at the narrow section between Bürgel and the chemical works, which is to be widened in the long term, and will contribute to enhancing the link between the Kuhmühltal valley and the area in front of the Main.

The previous concept of separating recreational use in the south and nature conservation in the north will be retained and further developed.

New development opportunities for leisure and recreation arise from the clearance of previously commercially used areas, such as the inclusion of the existing buildings there as summer restaurants and the reorganization of motorized traffic. In addition, an extensification of the agricultural areas adjacent to the protected area is proposed in order to create an effective buffer between the protected biotope areas and the intensively used areas. This will also result in a significant increase in the ecological value of the area around the Schultheis pond. This can be further strengthened by water enhancement measures at the fishing ponds and the Entensee lake, so that a valuable biotope complex is also created here in the immediate vicinity of leisure and recreation areas.
With regard to the access system, the main aim is to improve the connection to the banks of the Main and the Arthur-von-Weinberg footbridge by creating a more attractive, scenic, curved connection.

For the open fields, the aim is to largely return to arable farming, grassland use and horticulture. In particular, buildings and external uses such as residential buildings or commercial uses are to be removed from the open countryside and the previously scattered gardens far away from residential areas are to be concentrated in locations close to the village with the same number or in line with demand. Equestrian facilities, on the other hand, can be retained as a typical form of use and characteristic of the landscape. Here, only massive buildings such as riding halls should be greened and thus better integrated into the landscape context.
The landscape should also be better structured by planting hedges, copses, groups of trees etc., for example. This is accompanied by an increase in ecological value as well as a positive influence on the landscape.
With regard to the recreational function, the focus is on upgrading, further developing and supplementing the existing path system. A hierarchically structured system of paths with main links along the Mainbogen, the Kuhmühltal and around the villages is proposed, with special consideration given to higher-level paths such as the "Mainuferweg", "Apfelweinroute", "Regionalparkroute", "Regionalparkanbindung" and "Grünring vom Main zum Main".