How did the idea for the “Stadt am Bach” project come about?
The “Stadt am Bach” site was originally home to disused tennis courts. Various ideas for repurposing the area within the sports district were repeatedly brought forward. There were also different requests from clubs and local residents regarding its future use. In 2019, the town council actively addressed the issue of redevelopment and commissioned a landscape architect to design a new concept for the area. The outcome was the creation of a cross-generational leisure facility that would meaningfully complement the existing playgrounds, football pitches and recreational facilities in the town.
To what extent was citizen participation crucial in the planning process?
From the very beginning, it was important to both the town council and the mayor to involve the citizens in the development of the planning options. Citizen participation therefore became a decisive factor in the redevelopment planning, particularly in selecting the play and exercise facilities.
The citizens’ association MAG (Miteinander Attraktives Großbottwar – “Together for an Attractive Großbottwar”) offered to support the town administration with the project, especially in collecting ideas for redesigning the site. The Institute for Communicative Action (Uhingen) was commissioned to design and evaluate the citizen survey. To ensure that everyone had the chance to participate, contributions could be made both online and in paper form. More than 1,500 citizens took part in the survey – nearly 20% of Großbottwar’s total population.
How was the project financed – funding, donations, own resources?
The total project costs amount to €850,000 (as of 10 July 2025). Through the “Landschaftspark Region Stuttgart” funding programme of the Stuttgart Regional Association, the project received co-financing of €300,000. In addition, significant donations totalling around €85,000 were made by citizens, local businesses and associations. This high level of willingness to donate is not something to be taken for granted and clearly underlines the community’s need and desire for such a leisure facility, as well as their satisfaction with the design. The town of Großbottwar contributed around €460,000 from its own funds.
What does the “Stadt am Bach” project mean for Großbottwar as a municipality in terms of quality of life and location attractiveness?
The “Stadt am Bach” recreational area was designed according to the wishes of the citizens. It offers play and exercise opportunities across generations and therefore appeals to a broad section of the population. For this reason, “Stadt am Bach” plays an important role in both quality of life and the attractiveness of the location. Especially in today’s fast-paced world, people seek places for recreation and activity outside their daily obligations. The area also provides a platform for social interaction across all age groups.
What considerations influenced the selection of specific exercise facilities?
Primarily, the results of the citizen survey were evaluated. The age structure of the participants was also taken into account in the assessment. For the working group set up specifically for the leisure area, it was important to create a mix of exercise, play and recreation opportunities that would be attractive and usable across generations.
Which target groups is the site intended to address in particular?
In principle, the facilities are designed to appeal to all age groups. Since Großbottwar already has a very attractive range of playgrounds for toddlers and children up to around 10 years of age, the aim with the “Stadt am Bach” recreational area was to create a dedicated offer for young people. At the same time, the addition of the boules court ensures that older generations are also addressed.
What obstacles and challenges arose during the planning and implementation phases?
The greatest challenge was to implement the project in such a way that the citizens felt involved and represented in the process, while still keeping costs within a manageable financial framework. With the town’s own contribution of around €470,000 spread over two financial years, “Stadt am Bach” is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by Großbottwar. The town council decided to cover a maximum of 60% of the total costs, with the remainder having to be raised through funding or donations. This demonstrates that while the administration and council placed high importance on the project, realistic financial feasibility had to be kept in mind – especially in difficult economic times.
What feedback has the town already received from citizens, associations or other groups regarding the site?
Feedback from citizens has been overwhelmingly positive. The professionally conducted citizen survey involved everyone, and the transparent evaluation further ensured that all participants felt heard. The “Stadt am Bach” recreational area can rightly be regarded as a community project and therefore enjoys great recognition and appreciation.
Are further developments or additions to the recreational area planned?
As a next step, an urban gardening project is planned as an addition.
