Opened in 1979 as the last of five regional parks, Mattlerbusch sits at Duisburg's northern edge. Spanning approximately 45 hectares—the size of about 57 football pitches—it stretches roughly one kilometre from north to south. Living up to its promise of "A day's escape," the park delivers everything needed for outdoor recreation, from peaceful relaxation to active pursuits. Knappmann Landschaftsbau executed the extensive revitalization on behalf of the Regionalverband Ruhr, partnering strategically with several landscape architecture firms. This collaboration proved essential, as Georg Pins, head of new construction at Knappmann for this project, emphasizes: the ambitious timeline demanded precisely orchestrated construction phases to stay on schedule.

The park takes its name from Mattlerbusch, a historic farmstead now home to dining facilities, and revolves around this central landmark. Nearby sits the distinctive graduation tower, whose transformation formed a key part of the beautification program. Another highlight is the Niederrhein-Therme, a thermal spa nestled within the park—though unlike the park itself, it charges admission. The revitalization, completed between February 2022 and May 2023, involved extensive renovation and landscaping work. Native trees and shrubs were planted throughout, including roughly 200 trees and 5,000 shrubs, with climate resilience in mind. Species selected include field maple, sweet chestnut, European hackberry, and European hop hornbeam. Approximately 180,000 flower bulbs—responsible for the park's springtime color—were partially planted using machinery. Across the site, 22,000 perennials were distributed and around 40,000 m² of wildflower seeds were sown. "Such plant diversity creates vital habitats for insects and wildlife," explains Knappmann site manager Sascha Littawe. "In the densely built Ruhr region, this is genuinely exceptional." Certain areas were strategically set aside to allow flora and fauna to flourish naturally, while a long-abandoned zone was brought back to life as an attractive community space. The scale of work was substantial: 10,000 m² of soil replacement and 6,300 metres of electrical conduits installed. Kilometres of paths wind through the landscape—roughly one-third forested—guiding visitors to highlights including a garden terrace framed by planted hillsides, complete with 12 large raised beds and 14 ground-level beds for growing vegetables, herbs, and fruit. The park also features adventure playgrounds, extensive sports facilities, a calisthenics area, and quieter retreats like the newly created saltworks plaza and boules court.

www.knappmann.de

Photography:

Dirk Binnewies, Tim Rosentreter

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|24)