Strengthening the center of the Waldhof district

The city councillors approved the renovation of the Kleewasem playground, the upgrading of the green corridor with an exercise park and the construction of a meeting point in Bieber Waldhof in spring 2024.

Construction work began in June 2025 and was completed in spring 2026. The work covered three areas: The playground was renovated and now offers inclusive play areas for children up to the age of ten. The adjacent green strip focuses on sports enthusiasts and offers exercise opportunities for all ages. In the third section, a covered meeting point with a play table and seating has been created.

The costs amounted to around 875,000 euros and were financed by the income from the shortfall in occupancy tax from the social rental housing subsidy.

The playground offers play opportunities for children between the ages of 0 and 10.

The approximately 1,000 square metre playground has been thoroughly modernized and redesigned. The existing net pyramid has been retained and integrated into the new overall concept. The playground has been expanded with

• a triple swing with different swing seats
• a versatile play tower with various ascents and descents
• a sand play area with a low platform and little house for the little ones and a sand play table for wheelchair users
• Balancing logs at different heights, a small play hill and a coloring and communication board

A centrally located seating area with a table forms the communicative center of the playground. Further benches along the paths provide additional seating for families and accompanying persons.

The play equipment is made of durable local woods such as robinia and oak; chemically impregnated materials were deliberately avoided. Fall protection surfaces made of wood chips ensure safety and a high level of infiltration.

New shrub and lawn areas offer an experience of nature. The existing trees have all been preserved and provide shade and evaporative cooling in hot summers.

Accessibility, inclusion and safety: All paths and entrances were designed to be stepless with smooth surfaces and are easy to use with baby carriages, walking frames or wheelchairs. High-contrast path markings and a clear spatial structure make orientation easier.

Water- and air-permeable concrete was deliberately chosen as the material for the paths in the playground area in order to provide optimal conditions for the tree roots.

The green corridor was redesigned in two sections:

• Upgrading a previously little-used meadow area with a circular path with a pergola, seating and several sports stations for young and old.
• Redesign of a densely overgrown area to create a clear, inviting meeting place with a covered seating area, games table (for chess, for example) and flowering plantings.

Benches and seating blocks along the path invite you to take a break. There are also new bicycle parking spaces and numerous new plantings - including fruit trees and berry bushes.

Special attention is paid to climate-adapted design: rainwater from the adjacent play street will in future be directed into the green areas, where it can be retained, seep away or evaporate. The meadow mixtures used for sowing are both drought and moisture tolerant.

A drinking water well is to be installed in the second construction phase.