Parks and Public Green Spaces
Riedberg citizens have a lot of green space right on their doorsteps. There are avenues, lovingly tended gardens, parks and public green areas. Well-laid paths invite you to stroll and linger; lawns and playing fields invite you to play and have fun! Over a third of the development area consists of green and integrated landscape areas. Parks and public gardens divide the district, connect the neighbourhoods and enhance the attractiveness of public areas. This forms an interesting relationship between the pathways. Come and see it for yourself and relax on a long walk though the area. Interesting architecture, spacious green spaces and a view of the Frankfurt skyline; where else can you enjoy all of this together? The Bonifatius park and the eastern part of the Kätcheslach park are already finished.
Relax and Unwind: Bonifatius Park
Bonifatius park covers 7.5 hectares and is planned as a modern landscape park. The 800 x 100 metre green, open space is adjacent to the Bonifatiusbrunnen district to the north. The name of the park goes back to the historical Bonifatius well, which is part of the park. The sandstone-clad promenade in the park is very impressive. From here you can enjoy a splendid view of the Frankfurt skyline. This planning is the result of a competition that was won by Berlin landscape architects, b+m+s (Bernard, Müggenburg, Sattler). The key elements of the design are a large central staircase with a square in front of it, spacious, quiet parks with playgrounds, play areas and areas to sunbathe. The park structure uses directional tree planting and similar types of tree to reduce the division caused by the "Zur Kalbacher Höhe" street. The aim was to produce a complete park. The park promenade on the northern edge also works as a backbone to connect the individual parts of the park. There is a football field directly to the north.
Streams and Ponds: Kätcheslach Park
Kätcheslach park will be the largest park in the new district, with 11.9 hectares. It lies between the Altkönigblick district and the Mitte district and is a central element of Riedberg's design for green spaces. The park is located to support the creation of cool air. The park has a variety of play areas for different age groups and spacious playing fields. The "Kätcheslach" is integrated into the park. This is a ditch that temporarily carries water and was included in the planning as a historical landscape component. Storage areas for rainwater from public spaces and the neighbouring districts are integrated into the park design - similar to the other green spaces in Riedberg.
This provides the district with a comprehensive system for rainwater utilisation and drainage; the magnitude and consistency of this approach is unique. The rainwater flows into the Kalbach or into the Riedberg conservation area using a system of troughs and rain storage reservoirs. The Kätcheslach park with the Kätcheslach pond is part of this concept to retain as much water as possible from the hydrological cycle. The park therefore functions as a public green space and technical infrastructure in one.
The design concept envisages different zones from an urban district in the west to more agricultural land in the east. The design of the Kätcheslach park came from Berlin landscape architect Prof. Jürgen Weidinger as the result of a landscape architecture competition that was carried out in 2002. According to Jürgen Weidinger, the "openness of the landscape should be perceptible" in the Kätcheslach park. Quote from Jürgen Weidinger: "We borrow the design motive from the agricultural landscape, for example, rows of trees formed like avenues and lawns that are similar to fields. The rows of trees form a spacial framework along the build that the countryside 'flows into'. The detailing characteristic changes from the town park in the west to the agricultural parkland in the east. In singled out areas in town and landscape spaces, places to be enjoyed such as town squares, play areas, topographic vales, copses and terasses are created."
The eastern part of the park was opened to the public in September 2010. The western part will be completed as part of the continuing development over the next couple of years. The eastern part of Kätcheslach park has been developed into a diverse park landscape with high design standards that invites people to stroll and relax, to do sport and to play.
Noise Barriers
Riedberg benefits from excellent transport connections: the area is quickly accessible by car due to Riedberg having it's own motorway junction and excellent roads nearby. Noise barriers at Marie-Curie-Strasse and the BAB 5 ensure that it is still peaceful in Riedberg. The noise barriers are covered with plants and grass to make them fit into the surrounding natural environment. The noise barrier along the BAB 5 is 1.2km long, 25m at the base and approximately 2.5m at the top of the wall. A park site on the Riedberg side is also part of the whole building project. Here you can go for a walk, go skating or enjoy the peace and quiet from one of the benches or stone seating areas.
