New ban on the sports field: Is playing ball now taboo in Mannschatz?

New ban on the sports field: Is playing ball now taboo in Mannschatz?

There have recently been new signs at the Mannschatz sports field in Oschatz that read loudly LVZ ban some activities. The Oschatz city council, represented by Falk Zschäbitz from the Free Voters, took aim at the bans that have now been set in a meeting. Cycling, barbecuing, drinking alcohol, rollerblading and playing ball are no longer permitted on the site, which is the property of the city. These regulations did not previously exist, which led to uncertainty and discontent.

Mayor David Schmidt announced that there were massive complaints from residents. These complaints were the reason for Zschäbitz's request and led to the district office asking the city to clarify the matter. “We had to react to general rules and laws,” explained building authority manager Torsten Heinrich. The city was unable to hand over the facility to the local club, SC Grün-Weiß Mannschatz, which uses the field weekly for its training.

Discussion about usage

An interesting point is that the bans are not intended to reduce the rights of the community; the club remains unaffected by these new rules. Heinrich emphasized that the measures are necessary to prevent unauthorized use of the square, especially on Sundays. Many of the “Sunday players” come from the nearby towns of Strehla and Riesa, which makes the situation even more complicated. While some residents are unhappy with the new regulations, there are no objections to recreational football at other locations, such as the Gänsegrube near the hospital.

A sign listing similar, albeit more relaxed, prohibitions was also put up at the neighboring playground. While playing ball is not prohibited here, drinking alcohol, smoking, listening to the radio and open fire are prohibited. This area is intended for children up to 14 years of age, meaning the space was deliberately designed for younger users. Further discussions with the club are planned to discuss and possibly optimize the use of the space.

Optimization of sports usage

In the context of the spontaneous regulations, some are asking themselves how the use of these sports fields can be designed in a future-oriented manner. According to a report by Clublist Sports fields should be optimized as important places for sports and social interactions in the community. The focus is not only on competitive sports, but also on the broader population. Improving accessibility and maintaining diversity in possible uses are aspects that should be taken into account in future planning.

One might think that existing future-oriented reforms, such as the dismantling of the “sign forest” in cities, could also allow for more flexibility on local sports fields. The reformed road traffic regulations, as in fr.de described could serve to break down barriers and make the space more accessible to the community again.

In the hope of a positive turn in the situation, it remains exciting to see how the dialogue between the city, club and residents will continue and what new approaches will be developed for the use of the Mannschatz sports field.