In 2027, the International Garden Exhibition will come to the Ruhr Metropolis. Among other things, it will use future gardens to show how a climate-friendly future can be shaped in this region and what an important role green infrastructure plays in highly densely populated areas. The foundation for a green Ruhr region and recreational opportunities on the doorstep was laid back in the 1970s. At that time, the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR) established the five Revierparks Mattlerbusch, Vonderort, Nienhausen, Gysenberg and Wischlingen, which stretch like a green ribbon from west to east across the Ruhr region. The ageing facilities have been undergoing extensive renovation since 2020 as part of the large-scale revitalisation project "Revierparks 2020+" and will reopen in mid-2023. 

The sustainably redesigned and ecologically upgraded areas cover around 96,070 m². A good 22,140 m² of unused land was cleared and unsealed, more than 700 trees were newly planted, and species-rich flowering meadows, shrubs and small biotopes were created to provide diverse habitats. In addition to the environmentally friendly measures, contemporary leisure facilities also play a role, which have been taken into account with the creation of trendy and fun sports facilities, adventure and water playgrounds, nature trails and much more. To enable everyone to participate, thresholds and barriers have been improved, new signage with pictograms has been installed, lighting has been renewed and inclusive educational opportunities have been created. The lighting in all parks is dimmable and is only 20 per cent at night. The sports areas are only lit when necessary. The furniture and the guidance and information system are also uniform across all parks. The total investment amounted to around €28 million, 80 per cent of which was financed by the European Union and the state as part of European regional funding (EFRE 2014–2020) from the "Green Infrastructure NRW" call for proposals. The remaining amount was covered by the RVR from its own funds. "Each park has its own motto with distinctive unique selling points. The respective colour concept supports this individual orientation," says RVR Regional Director Karola Geiß-Netthöfel, explaining the positioning of each park.

Yellow is the colour of Mattlerbusch Wildlife Park, whose motto "A Day's Holiday" goes hand in hand with a central play and exercise area for young and old, an adventure playground, a calisthenics and boules facility, as well as a snack garden and urban gardening. Vonderort is the "park in motion", whose dynamism is underlined by the colour red. This is represented by a trend and fun sports arena with a bouldering facility and climbing forest, a boules facility, the "Buchen-Loop" nature trail and exercise trail, and a green room. The Nienhausen "water park" is blue and features a Kneipp basin and barefoot path, a water playground, the "Water Loop" and "Bee Loop" nature trails, and an inclusive adventure playground. "Nature & Tivoli" is the motto of the Revierpark Gysenberg in Herne, which has been given the colour purple. Adventure is provided here by a pump track facility, a mechanics/bionics playground, a smash-back wall and beach volleyball courts. At Dortmund's Revierpark Wischlingen, the motto is "Experience the park – learn about nature". Consequently, the colour green is used. The park offers the "Nature Loop" nature and adventure trail, a floating jetty with "display windows" and small biotopes.

www.revierparks.rvr.ruhr

Photography Credits:

VR/Wiciok

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|23)