Current overview: Playgrounds and football pitches in Offenbach

Playgrounds contribute significantly to the physical development of children with their wide range of exercise and climbing opportunities. This not only trains coordination and a sense of balance. Meeting other children, young people and adults also promotes social development. The City of Offenbach is aware of the positive qualities of playgrounds for its youngest citizens. For this reason, the first playground framework plan was adopted back in 1974, which regulates the further development of Offenbach's playgrounds.

Offenbach has grown considerably in recent years and continues to grow. Due to the changing demographic structure of the city, but also the changes in the legal framework over the course of time, the city reacted accordingly and initiated a review and adaptation of the playground framework plan back in 2007. Twelve years ago, the city councillors passed a resolution in principle to implement the updated playground master plan. Since then, existing facilities have not only been renovated and modernized, but completely new playgrounds have also been created.

"We are currently in the construction phase for the green corridors with play areas in the Bieber-Nord and Waldheim-Süd development areas. In the autumn, the tender for the construction work for two playgrounds and the greening of the noise barrier in the Bürgel-Ost development area will be issued and we are currently in the planning phase for the pond renovation and subsequent renovation of the park and the associated playground at Friedrichsweiher. The construction of the children's playground on Heusenstammer Weg will also begin this year," says Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of Planning and Construction, on the current construction measures.

The playground master plan is still up to date and forms the basis for further planning. Based on an established list of priorities, all existing playgrounds are gradually being modernized in line with current technical and professional requirements. Thanks to an increase in personnel in the responsible department for open space design and urban greenery, the tendering and construction of further playgrounds and open spaces can begin this year. "The prioritization on the basis of the framework plan leaves enough leeway to react flexibly and, if necessary, bring forward urgent construction measures or implement specific modernizations and wishes for the individual playground projects," continued Councillor Weiß. This is currently the case with the construction of the exercise trail in Grünring, the Scheffelplatz/Buchhügel children's playground and the planned replacement of the play equipment at the town hall.

Over the next few years, the number of children's play areas in the city will increase from 60 to 71 and the number of football pitches to 24. "In future, we will not only have more playgrounds in Offenbach, but also more modern, diverse and inclusive play facilities. And by converting the classic football pitches into multifunctional areas, we will offer different age groups and genders the flexible play and sports space they urgently need," says Weiß. He also emphasizes that parks and squares are now increasingly being used as meeting places for young and old and that offers for senior citizens must also be created: "The corona pandemic has also shown us very clearly what an important function all public open spaces have, especially when participation in club sports and meetings in closed rooms are only possible to a limited extent. We are responding to this development with various measures in the future." For example, mobile play elements can contribute to temporary leisure activities in underserved areas. In addition, table tennis tables or mobile blocks for attaching slacklines could be temporarily set up in city centers and then moved to other locations. The range of public fitness equipment should also be expanded if the exercise trail on Grünring is well received. "Conflicts with local residents could be easier to avoid with the temporary play elements, as it is clear that this is not a permanent situation," Weiß concludes.