Kolmer: "We will expand and further network the overall green system for all people."
Darmstadt. Wednesday, November 5, 2025 the city council of Darmstadt, a city of science , adopted the new open space concept for the city's green spaces. Under the guiding principle of "Connecting Open Spaces," the city's green and blue infrastructure is to be further networked, expanded, and adapted to climate change.
Planning and Green Spaces Director Michael Kolmer emphasized the importance of the decision: “Around 45 percent of Darmstadt’s urban area is forest, and almost two-thirds fall under the category of ‘vegetation.’ We have wonderful places like the Herrngarten, the Rosenhöhe, the Bürgerpark Nord, and the Prinz-Emil-Garten. We must not only preserve these places but also develop them into a comprehensive green system for everyone and further connect them to adapt to climate change. The open space concept is an indispensable urban planning foundation for this.”
The concept is the result of a two-year working phase involving citizens, city departments, and academics. Parks, promenades, squares, and cemeteries were surveyed, and the provision of accessible open spaces for the population was analyzed. The evaluation shows an increase in the availability of open spaces from west to east .
The Parks Department identified over 280 measures "Connect – Network" strategy understood as part of a cohesive green infrastructure
This also includes connecting urban green spaces with the so-called landscape ring – the transition between built-up areas and open countryside. The city sees great potential there for local recreation and nature experiences .
Key objectives include preserving and developing existing green spaces , creating barrier-free connections between open areas, and establishing new places for people to linger without commercial . Planting additional urban trees and utilizing available land are also part of the strategy.
The open space concept will serve as a basis for future urban planning to safeguard existing open spaces, expansion areas, and connecting zones. Following the anticipated approval by the city council in December 2025, the concept will be published on the city's website ( www.darmstadt.de ).
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip=
