Active consultation with residents: Ideas workshop for green corridor at planned Bayer 04 Campus

From the initial, open request for concrete interests and questions for the evening among the residents in attendance came the following points: "Ideas that combine all interests", "dialogue on equal terms" as well as "constructive cooperation."

In the introductory welcome to the residents together with Daniel Zimmerman, the mayor of Monheim am Rhein, Anne Dannenberg, director of TecArena-Plus GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH, said: "We come to you with this subject at this very early stage to listen to you and to be able to take your ideas and suggestions into account in further planning."

discussion groups on three araes of work

For detailed development of these ideas from the residents there were then discussion groups divided into three areas of work 'Nature & environment', 'Route guidance & connections' plus 'Possible leisure activities' that brought the residents together in small groups in turn. The key suggestions from the citizens on the proposed green corridor divided into the three aforementioned areas of work:

I. Nature and environment

• The green corridor should create ecological added value
• The green corridor should include a wildflower strip plus grass and woodland
• The biodiversity of flora and fauna should be taken into account
• An educational trail on flora and fauna should be installed, particularly for children and teenagers
• A link should be created between the green corridor and the compensation side of the meadow orchard ‘Am Pfingsterfeld’
• ‘Insect hotels' should be installed

II. Route guidance & connections

• There should be a "green" visual cover to the site of the Bayer 04 Campus
• The access to the green corridor should be done sensitively and with consideration for the residents
• Visual cover and noise protection should be combined
• There should be signage for orientation
• The positioning and illumination of a possible access route should be set up with consideration for the nearest residents
• The green corridor should remain a pure greenway without directions.

III. Possible leisure activities

• Added value should be created for people
• There should be untouched walking routes
• They should be a fitness trail
• A drinking water fountain should be included

Ideas from Online survey

The ideas from a previous online citizens survey were taken into account in the additional planning and design of the proposed green corridor. The collated results of this online survey:

Design in the form of sport and leisure provision:

• A nature track
• Well-equipped paths for grassroots sport (fountain, signage, lighting)
• Open-air sports equipment and/or climbing facility
• Gardens for children to learn, plant and harvest
• Emission control facility
• Connection of cycle/footpath from the ‘Im Pfingsterfeld’ area to the Heerweg cycle/footpath

No development but maintenance of the area and fresh air cutting:

• More trees and more nature for people and wildlife
• Natural wildflowers and meadow orchard
• More insect friendly and conservation planting
• Nature friendly demarcation through grassed mounds

In addition, there should be cooperation with different stakeholders such as above all the Monheim clubs and the biological station Haus Bürgel.

Dannenberg: "find the best Solutions"

Following the communal work in the discussion groups the collated results and insights were presented, summarised and recorded in a plenary session. Anne Dannenberg declared at the end: "Many thanks for your ideas and the discussion. We take some homework as well as interesting suggestions with this and will test these with a range of professional authorities, planning offices and consultants with the target of finding the best solutions for the nearest residents and other interest groups."

Information on the Bayer 04 Campus that is set to be one of the most state-of-the-art European performance and training centres in football can be found HERE.