The city is planning a supervised recreation area, more street work, and stronger prevention measures
The Darmstadt city council has approved an action plan for dealing with the open drug scene around the Herrngarten park and the drug support organization Scentral. Plans include a designated recreational area at the Herrngarten, additional street outreach programs, and measures to improve safety and cleanliness. The possibility of establishing supervised drug consumption rooms is also being examined.
The city council approved the cross-departmental action plan on September 2nd. This plan is based on a resolution passed by the city assembly in September 2025 regarding the further development of strategies for dealing with the open drug scene. The plan will now be submitted to the city assembly for discussion and a vote.
Supervised recreation area at Herrngarten
A key component is a designated area at Herrngarten, which will be supervised by social workers. This aims to create a place for people from the open drug scene to gather and to concentrate the scene within a specific area.
The area is to be designed in such a way that it can be dismantled again. This explicitly does not imply permission for drug use.
In parallel, outreach social work will be expanded. Additional street outreach services are planned for mornings and evenings, as well as three days a week until midnight. This aims to reach those affected even outside of Scentral's opening hours. Services will include, among other things, referrals to further support services and emergency sleeping accommodations, as well as the provision of sterile drug paraphernalia.
Drug consumption rooms are being inspected
The establishment of drug consumption rooms has not yet been decided. An official consumption room for inhaling substances in the outdoor area of the Scentral, as well as a convertible room for intravenous use, are being considered.
According to the city, both projects are currently in the review and coordination phase. First, the legal requirements must be clarified with the state of Hesse. Separate proposals for decision-making will follow for each project's potential implementation.
Until then, the courtyard of the Scentral will remain a consumption-free recreation area.
The twelve day-care places at Scentral will also be continued. This service, which has been in place since December 2025, is to be made permanent from August 2027. The day-care places are intended to provide a safe and secure environment and help to identify health crises early and connect individuals with further support services.
More personnel for the city police
Security and public order are also part of the action plan. The city police force is to be reinforced with additional personnel. A staffing assessment has already been commissioned; the additional personnel requirements will be decided upon based on this assessment.
For the interim period, the city council is considering hiring a private security service. However, the city points out that this service would not be able to enforce any law enforcement measures in public spaces.
The Herrngarten park and particularly sensitive areas such as playgrounds will continue to be cleaned twice daily as needed. This includes, in particular, the removal of discarded consumer goods.
More addiction prevention for young people
Beyond the immediate measures in the Herrngarten park, addiction prevention programs for young people are to be expanded. Supplementary youth addiction counseling is also planned for adolescents and young adults with problematic substance use.
The action plan will be accompanied by systematic monitoring. This monitoring will record, among other things, the number and behavior of consumers, their need for assistance, and security-related developments. The administration will report the results annually to the city council and, if necessary, propose adjustments to the measures.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
