Dispute over the sale of playgrounds in Lankow: Citizens want to have a say!

Dispute over the sale of playgrounds in Lankow: Citizens want to have a say!

In Lankow, the sale of the playground on Kieler Straße is very popular. The decision to sell the popular playground was made by the city council behind closed doors, which caused quite a stir in local politics. Over half of the city representatives voted for the sale to Quart GmbH & Co. KG, which can now submit building applications. The planned use includes space for retail and healthcare services. However, many citizens are critical of what the city administration sees as a sensible urban development measure.

The sale of playgrounds has been a controversial topic in city politics for some time. In November 2020, the main committee approved the sale, but set the condition that a new playground be built on Julius-Polentz-Straße. This statement has not yet been implemented because the location has now been planned for something else, namely for a school. These circumstances made the SPD sit up and take notice and demand a stop to the sale because it contradicts the integrated urban development concept. The CDU, on the other hand, is pushing for the decision to be confirmed in order not to endanger economic development.

Accusations and new compromises

The dispute continues to escalate as protests against the sale continue. A new compromise proposal calls for three smaller playing areas to be set up at different locations. The buyer takes over the complete production of the replacement surfaces, which, according to critics, are smaller and of questionable quality. The Urban and Cultural Protection Campaign (ASK) sees this sale as not only a violation of participation rights, but also a disregard for the needs of young users.

Stephan Martini, a non-attached city representative, has already filed a complaint with the municipal legal supervision authority. What came as a surprise was the confirmation from the MV Ministry of the Interior, Construction and Digitalization that there is actually a lack of active participation by children and young people, although this does not automatically make the decision illegal. The city administration therefore sees itself on the safe side legally, as the property was never formally dedicated as a playground.

Participation for the future

The importance of citizen participation is often emphasized in modern urban planning. Involving subsequent users early in the planning process can avoid planning errors and ultimately promotes the satisfaction of everyone involved. Various methods such as information events, workshops and on-site visits show that active participation by the population is essential. Successful examples from cities such as Freiburg and Hamburg illustrate how civic engagement can bring about positive changes, as the article by Architektenwahl shows.

In the coming weeks, the city administration will examine the legal requirements for a possible citizens' petition, in which Stephan Martini is already submitting plans to submit 4,000 signatures to protect the playground. The city council could then either approve the request directly or hold a referendum. It remains to be seen what solutions will be found so that the voices of citizens can actually be heard in urban planning and the new playgrounds can be designed with everyone in mind. What is certain is that there will be a lot of movement in this matter - that will make waves in the Lankow municipal authorities!