Urban Development in Braunschweig: Playground Renovation and Climate Protection in Focus

Playground Renovation in the Danube District: A Step Toward Social Urban Development

The Möhlkamp playground in the Danube district was unanimously approved in February 2026 by the Committee for Planning and Construction. With a total cost of 400,000 euros, the playground is being redesigned to improve the living environment and the social infrastructure of the area. Two-thirds of the funding comes from federal and Lower Saxony urban development funds, with one-third being the city's own contribution.

The renovation is part of the supported area "Social City – Danube District," which aims at the sustainable development of socially disadvantaged districts. The planning was closely coordinated with residents and especially with the wishes of children, who shared their ideas at a participation event on August 29, 2025. The new playground design includes three circular play areas, a grass soccer field, a basketball court, swings, a carousel, and spinning games. For fall protection, wood chips and EPDM surfacing are used, emphasizing safety and sustainability.

Unsealing Register: Climate Protection Through Planning

Another important topic in February 2026 was the creation of an unsealing register in accordance with § 19 Abs. 1 NKlimaG (Lower Saxony Climate Protection Act). Braunschweig is required to determine by the end of 2026 which areas are suitable for unsealing. The register is provided as a WebGIS application by the state of Lower Saxony and is a central component of the city's climate adaptation strategy.

In the committee, council members discussed the significance of the unsealing register in relation to the Land Use Plan 2040, which is currently being revised. Potential for unsealing oversized traffic areas was discussed. The guideline "E-Klima 2022" from FGSV (Special Interest Group Urban Development, Traffic and Energy) was highlighted as the "state of the art," setting clear requirements for reducing sealing.

The Land Use Plan and Its Limits

The Land Use Plan (FNP) is a central planning framework, but it does not make precise provisions for future sealing. It is described as a "plan of possibilities" and does not create legally binding construction rights. Therefore, no interim results on specific unsealing areas are currently available. Nevertheless, it is intended to actively use the unsealing potential in new planning and traffic area redesigns.

The statement 26-28351-01 on the creation of the unsealing register was acknowledged by the Committee for Planning and Construction on February 27, 2026. The Department of Urban Planning and Geoinformation is responsible for implementing the project, with the use of the register by the municipalities planned for the coming weeks.

Outlook: Sustainability and Participation as Central Impulses

The decisions of February 2026 show how Braunschweig is integrating both social and ecological goals into urban planning. The playground renovation is an example of participatory design and investment in the city's future, while the unsealing register sets a clear impulse for climate protection and sustainable land use. Both projects contribute to making Braunschweig a livable, sustainable, and efficient city.