Family holiday idyll in Pütnitz: opportunity or curse for the region?

Family holiday idyll in Pütnitz: opportunity or curse for the region?

An exciting project is currently causing a stir in the Vorpommern-Rügen district. The city of Ribnitz-Damgarten is planning to transform the former military site on the Pütnitz peninsula into a family holiday idyll. The opportunities and risks of this development are the focus of the discussion. On November 3, 2025, there will be a talk with the topic “New Center Parcs project in Pütnitz: engine or collapse for the region?” instead to shed light on the different perspectives. The talk starts at 8 p.m. in the Ribnitz-Damgarten meeting center, admission starts at 7:15 p.m. Those interested can register via the NDR website and even follow the discussion in the live stream, as NDR reports.

The city of Ribnitz-Damgarten hopes that the Center Parcs project will revitalize the region, create jobs and increase added value. But not all citizens are enthusiastic. Critics warn of staff shortages, an overload of the infrastructure and significant interference with nature. These concerns are not unfounded, because on February 24, 2024, the citizens' initiative “No Mass Tourism on Pütnitz” launched a formal citizens' petition to clarify the assumption of costs of 100 million euros for the establishment of Center Parcs & Co. Those who could suffer could be the citizens of Ribnitz-Damgarten and the surrounding regions, who are already struggling with the financial consequences in some places. According to the initiative, investors refuse to contribute significantly to the costs, so that a large part is to be passed on to taxpayers, as Open Petition informs.

Challenge of citizen participation

The discussion about the Center Parcs project also raises larger questions about citizen participation. Trust in politics is dwindling and many citizens feel disconnected from political events. The importance of integrating citizens' concerns into political decisions is becoming increasingly important, as [Gedankenpolitik](https://thoughtpolitics.de/die-meaning-of-buerger participation-in-der-kommunalpolitik-opportunities-und-chauschungen/) notes. Citizen participation requires transparent decision-making processes and the active participation of citizens in shaping their living spaces. Forms such as citizens' meetings or online platforms can ensure that the concerns and needs of the population are heard.

The citizens' initiative in Ribnitz-Damgarten is an example of an attempt to give citizens a stronger voice. Despite the rejection by the city council, an objection was lodged against this decision and the initiators are planning a legal dispute to enforce their concerns. So far, over 1,800 signatures have been collected to raise awareness of the project's problems. But the initiative needs support to cover the costs of the legal action and to draw attention to its demand.

In this context, it becomes clear that the future of local politics is based on intensive and honest cooperation between citizens and decision-makers. Ultimately, the project in Pütnitz could not only influence the fate of a region, but also contribute to the political culture and the approach to citizen participation in Germany.