The local council and citizens of the small Hessian town of Lich had long been aware that their town center lacked an attractive playground. Nobody took action – until Katharina Hillgärtner-Erll took matters into her own hands, founded the Bürgerpark Lich e.V. association and implemented a new town park with professional support. We spoke to the chairwoman about what it takes today to manage a participatory construction project.
Ms. Hillgärtner-Erll, how did the Bürgerpark Lich bottom-up project come about? How did it all start?
The idea was born during a panel discussion. I was asked what I – a midwife and mother of four children – felt was missing in Lich’s city center. The answer was obvious to me: a playground. The suggestion was discussed, but I went home with the feeling that nothing would change after all. A few days later, a friend approached me, inspired by a participatory project in a neighboring town. Together we developed the idea of a community-built park, started talking to friends and acquaintances, founded a citizens’ initiative and started talking to specialist planners and the town of Lich. The Bürgerverein Lich e.V. is now a good two years old and the community park was inaugurated in July 2016.
What were the challenges?
The biggest difficulty was not the actual implementation, but rather the approval from politicians and sponsors. On the one hand, we needed the majority of the city’s political bodies, and on the other hand, the EU funding from the LEADER program had to be applied for and approved – a feat in which the citizens’ association, the city of Lich and the specialist planners from Burghammer worked hand in hand.
What factors contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the project?
A central component of the project was the friendly and positive feedback from our sponsors and the outstanding commitment of the active citizens. The park was built in just three weekends with over 400 citizens. All age groups were represented – from toddlers to pensioners. When the park was completed, many were sad that there would not be another construction weekend for the time being.
How did you get the residents on board? How did you get them excited?
In our advertising campaigns, we naturally also worked with the usual media such as newspaper advertisements and press articles, but television and radio also became aware of us at some point. The personal approach was particularly important for us. With a board of 13 people, we were constantly out and about visiting schools and kindergartens, distributing flyers and putting them up in stores as well as hanging up banners and posters. And the personal contact paid off: On the first construction weekends, over 100 people came to help shape the community park.
What role did the commissioned landscape architecture firm play in the project process?
Burghammer Landschaftsarchitektur impressed us right from the start with its transparent working methods and friendly manner. With the help of the office, ideas for the new park were collected in two workshops and the concrete plan was developed. Matthias Burghammer and his team drew on their previous experience of public participation and also coordinated the three construction weekends. The third workshop is already being planned: the development of a skating rink for the Bürgerpark Lich.
What tips can you pass on to other organizations?
In my experience, cooperation with the municipality was particularly important for our project. The broad composition of our association board is also key – the Bürgerpark Lich association includes lawyers, press people and people of all ages. In Bürgerpark Lich e.V. you can be elected to the board from the age of 14. I can only recommend approaching key players, experts and citizens personally – this creates a personal connection to the project as well as contact. Of course, staying power, a lot of patience and a wide range of ideas in the most diverse areas are essential.
You can read more about Bürgerpark Lich in Garten + Landschaft 10/2016 – Rethinking parks.