Solingen Update: Highlights and Developments in February 2026

Diversity, Nature, and the Future – Solingen in February 2026

What was important this month

• 🌱 MehrArtenRäume Solingen (MARS) won the UN Decade Project Competition and will receive 340,000 € in funding.
• 🏛️ Schloss Burg will be operated in the future by a new gGmbH – planned to start in 2027.
• 🚶‍♂️ A hiking badge system for Solingen, Remscheid, and Wuppertal is in planning.
• 🌐 Digitization is making progress: 45.97% of OZG services are available via the service portal.
• ⚖️ Transparency and citizen participation are receiving new impulses through a new committee with clear guidelines.
• 🚗 Road construction projects and energy-saving technology in municipal buildings are in implementation.

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity: MARS Makes Progress

In February 2026, environmental projects were in the spotlight. The MehrArtenRäume Solingen (MARS) project was awarded first place in the category "Activation" at the UN Decade Project Competition 2025 and will now receive 340,000 € in funding from the Solingen City Savings Bank. The project promotes biodiversity and participation, particularly in schools and kindergartens.

Another highlight was the renaturalization of the Itter between km 11.94 and 12.12, as well as the renovation of the sewage pipe. These measures contribute to improving water quality and protecting the habitat. In addition, the § 246 e Bau-Turbo was introduced, which aims to accelerate approval procedures by 2030.

Integration and Equal Opportunities: New Paths in Inclusion Policy

In the area of equal opportunities and integration, funding applications and restructuring measures in the municipal integration management were discussed. Case Management is to be strengthened to provide more individual support, and the International Culture and Environment Festival "Life Needs Diversity" will in the future draw more attention to integration.

In addition, the Advisory Board for People with Disabilities held its first meeting. The goal is to remove structural barriers and further develop inclusion policy in Solingen. Participants included representatives from politics, administration, and disability organizations.

Digitization and Citizen Participation: Transparent Decisions

A new Committee for Transparency, Citizen Participation, and Equality has been established to further professionalize citizen participation. The aim is to ensure neutral moderation and transparent documentation of all participation processes. The legal basis comes from § 31 and § 52 (1) GemO NRW as well as the Guidelines for Citizen Participation 2017.

At the same time, digitization of the administration is being advanced. With the service portal service.solingen.de, 45.97% of OZG services are already available online. The city also plans to participate in the Smart Country Convention 2026 in Berlin to exchange digital innovations.

Cross-Topic: Climate, Integration, and the Future

The developments in February show that Solingen is consciously working toward a sustainable future. On the one hand, climate protection is being advanced through projects like MARS, and on the other hand, integration is seen as a central key to social and economic development. At the same time, digitization is understood as a central transformer of administration and citizen participation. Balancing these topics remains a challenge – and an opportunity.

Outlook: What's coming?

In autumn 2026, Solingen will participate in the Smart Country Convention in Berlin. The city is also working on the establishment of the gGmbH for Schloss Burg, which is scheduled to start on January 1, 2027. In the field of urban development, road construction projects and the redevelopment of the land use plan are in preparation. Citizen participation will be further professionalized through new structures and platforms.

Solingen is moving forward – and in the direction of more sustainability, more inclusion, and more digitization.