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Construction phase in Wolfskehlen completed – maintenance and scientific monitoring begin
The town of Riedstadt, associated with the author Büchner, is pleased to announce the successful completion of the construction phase of the "From Gray to Green" in Riedstadt-Wolfskehlen. With the final inspection on January 21, 2026, the work on Heinrich-Heine-Straße and Oppenheimer Straße is officially finished. The maintenance phase for the newly created green spaces and footpaths now begins.
The city eagerly anticipates spring, when the new planting areas will awaken from their winter dormancy. At the same time, it thanks the contracted company, Schleser Garten- und Landschaftsbau, for their focused collaboration and for ensuring that the schedule was met despite numerous challenges.
Delays and special challenges in the construction process
The project start was initially delayed because the funding approval for the construction phase arrived approximately two months later than announced. Furthermore, the first tender for the construction work had to be cancelled because the bids received significantly exceeded the available funds. After adjustments to the plans, a second tender finally led to a viable outcome.
The Schleser company was commissioned at the beginning of April 2025, and construction began immediately after Easter on April 22, 2025. This delayed the start of construction, originally planned for September 2024, by approximately eight months. During the ongoing work, another unforeseen interruption occurred: the invasive ant species "Large Gland Ant" was discovered in Heinrich-Heine-Straße. The construction site then had to be relocated at short notice to Oppenheimer Straße to allow for measures to be taken to control the ants.
Despite these challenges, the project has now been successfully completed. The city, the planners, and the construction company all agree that the result is impressive.
Facts and figures about the project
Extensive measures were implemented in Wolfskehlen as part of the "From Gray to Green" project. A total of approximately 1,400 square meters of new green space was created. This included planting 22 trees, 10,441 flowering perennials and grasses, and 27,283 flower bulbs. In addition, approximately 1,750 square meters of footpaths and driveways were newly constructed.
The newly designed green spaces also play an important role in rainwater management. Rainwater is used to irrigate the plants, while excess water is temporarily stored and allowed to seep into the ground gradually. On Oppenheimer Straße, the green spaces were also created between the sidewalk and the roadway, so pedestrians no longer have to walk directly along the street.
Nursing phase and accompanying scientific studies
In 2026, the Schleser company will take over the one-year post-project maintenance. This includes, in particular, the care and pruning of the trees, the upkeep of the green spaces, and keeping the inflows to the infiltration basins clear. Scientific monitoring studies will also continue in the summer of 2026. These studies will investigate whether and to what extent the redesign affects the local climate. In addition to vegetation surveys, drone flights with special sensors are planned again to measure, among other things, temperature changes and heat radiation during summer nights.
From 2027 to 2029, the company Schleser will provide three years of development and maintenance to ensure the safe establishment and functionality of the new facilities. Afterwards, the ongoing maintenance of the areas will be the responsibility of the city of Riedstadt.
Funding for the project
The "From Grey to Green" project, including final maintenance, is 90 percent funded by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development until the end of 2026. The city of Riedstadt is contributing the remaining ten percent.
Now everyone involved is eagerly awaiting spring – and hoping that the newly created areas will develop into green and flower-filled spaces as hoped.
(Riedstadt - Red/PSR)
Featured image: New planting areas in Heinrich-Heine-Straße . Photo: City of Riedstadt/Matthias Harnisch
