Rosenthal: District promotes area design with over 1.2 million euros

Preserving the old, rediscovering the existing, creating space for the new: The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is supporting the redesign of the open spaces at Dammrasen in Rosenthal with more than 1.2 million euros from EU funds and subsidies from the municipal financial equalisation scheme as part of village development. District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst handed over the corresponding funding notification to Mayor Stefan Jakob at a meeting on site.

The aim of the redesign is to reduce traffic in this area, to harmonise public and commercial areas in a sensible way and to create the atmosphere of a market square with places to stay and events. To this end, a planning office has already been commissioned with a feasibility study, in which the citizens of Rosenthal were also involved in a workshop and were able to give feedback. The project is planned as a central measure for upgrading the entire townscape and should also serve to strengthen Rosenthal as a core town with the existing infrastructure for all parts of the town.

Above all, the development of the Rodebach and the natural area as well as the use of the area as a residential street are to be further promoted in order to increase the quality of the residential environment through appropriate design. At the same time, the resident businesses at the location are to be maintained and strengthened. According to the plans, various measures are envisaged for this purpose.

In the future, the roadway areas are not only to serve as pure traffic areas, but are to be further developed in the direction of open space character. Traffic calming is to be achieved through a change in traffic routing. The bus stop will also be redesigned. Two circles are to enhance the design of the area in the sense of market square roundels and recreational facilities are also to be created. The currently visually dominant reinforced concrete trough that encloses the watercourse in this area is to be given a positive visual makeover - through plantings on the street side, planting in the railing areas and a changed lighting pattern. Of course, flood protection and fall protection will also be guaranteed after the realisation of the measure.

"The town centre of Rosenthal has grown historically, but offers a high urban development potential for the entire surrounding area," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. With the implementation of the project, the core town will not only be enhanced in terms of design. "Spaces for people will also be created and places to meet, for example for festivities such as town anniversaries or markets. "In order to promote village development in rural areas, we are pleased to be able to financially support the town of Rosenthal in this project."

This will also create a world of experience for the senses: In the future, natural elements will be seen there - consisting of bodies of water, green spaces, avenues of trees, hedges and climbing plants. You will be able to hear a sound symbiosis of water, nature and people in a restrained motorised traffic environment. In the future, one can feel recreation in the recreation area and a decelerated old town centre. The fruits of the newly planted fruit trees are to serve as a special taste experience, which can be harvested during harvest time as a communal experience for all residents.

"The city of Rosenthal has a unique opportunity for a long time to take creative action in the inner city area with such a high level of funding," says Rosenthal's mayor Stefan Jakob. "On behalf of all the committees, we are delighted about this opportunity." Further planning for the project is to start at the end of January and must be completed by October 2024 at the latest. According to the cost estimate of the planning office, the total costs for the project amount to more than 1.9 million euros. The eligible expenses are capped at 1.5 million euros, which is why the district's subsidy amounts to 85 per cent, or 1,275,000 euros. The subsidies are EU funds and funds from the municipal financial equalisation scheme.

Keywords:

Village Development Department Village and Regional Development