The "Playable City" project combines safety, participation and the promotion of physical activity
Griesheim – A total of 1212 pupils from the Griesheim primary schools August-Euler-Schule, Carlo-Mierendorff-Schule, Friedrich-Ebert-Schule and Schillerschule marked their school routes with chalk on July 1, 2025. As part of the "Mapping School Routes" , carried out by the city of Griesheim in cooperation with the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt under the direction of Professor Bernhard Meyer , the children marked their daily routes from school to home with colorful arrows, crosses and circles.
Markers show how children move through the city
The project had a clear goal: to better understand where children walk, which streets they cross, and where improvements are needed .
Students in grades 1 through 4 marked arrows at every change of direction on their route, crosses at street crossings, and a circle at their home. The data was mapped out by university and school students the same day and transferred to a city map.
These maps provide important insights for more child-friendly urban planning. Especially in areas where children frequently cross, additional crossing aids like the "little Griesheimer" be installed in the future – particularly in new residential areas.
Continuity and donations make the project possible
The school route mapping project last took place in 2020 and is being continued as part of the "Playable City" . This year's project was financed by donations from Friedrich Friedrich GmbH , Stadt- und Kreis-Sparkasse Darmstadt , Frankfurter Volksbank Rhein/Main and Sokolov GmbH .
The playable city: A Griesheim model project
For almost 30 years, the city of Griesheim, in cooperation with Professor Meyer, has regularly conducted urban exploration projects with children. The concept of the "playable city" aims to make the routes between places for children, such as playgrounds, schools, and libraries, safer and more attractive .
The idea arose from the realization that interesting places for children are increasingly isolated and separated by monotonous, busy routes. The goal is to rekindle children's enthusiasm for walking and promote their independence in public spaces – as an alternative to the so-called " parent taxi ."
The Griesheim concept has received nationwide attention and has been widely adopted – proof of the success of child-friendly urban design with the active participation of young citizens.
(GRIESHEIM – RED/PSG)
