Lörrach is tackling it: Generations are working together on the city district!

Lörrach is tackling it: Generations are working together on the city district!

The city of Lörrach's strategy “Quarter 2030 – Design Together.” a new chapter in neighborhood work. This initiative aims to improve the quality of life of citizens and to actively involve older people in particular in the development process. As verlagshaus-jaumann.de reports, there are numerous projects in the districts Stetten-Dorf, Hauingen, Haagen, Tumringen and on the Salzert have already been successfully implemented. These projects are mainly organized on a voluntary basis - from shared lunches to breakfast meetings - and are based on the principle of the participation of seniors as experts in their own realities of life.

A central concern of this new strategy is to take early measures to prevent social isolation. Seniors are currently developing ideas in close cooperation with the city administration that will enable them to age well. The focus is on a cross-generational, inclusive and sustainable approach that not only aims to maintain quality of life but also independence in old age. How important these approaches are is also shown by positive feedback from other cities that have successfully integrated the “Quartiersimpulse” funding program into their own neighborhood developments, such as Inzigkofen and Wernau. allianz-fuer-teilig.de points out that the program promotes citizen participation for age- and generation-appropriate neighborhood development.

Funding opportunities for communities

The framework conditions for these successful projects are created by the “Quartiersimpulse” funding program in Baden-Württemberg. Cities and municipalities can apply for grants of between 20,000 and 85,000 euros, with municipal associations even receiving up to 115,000 euros. Both cities and districts that work in cooperation with at least one municipality belonging to the district are eligible to apply. The application period runs until August 8, 2025, and the project is scheduled to start on October 1, 2025.

The experiences from projects that have already been implemented prove the positive effect of this funding. It is not just financial support, but also an impetus for the joint development of local structures. It turns out that innovative neighborhood approaches, such as those examined in the research of vhw.de, are increasingly in focus. It becomes clear here that social and sustainable urban development must go hand in hand. Considering how to utilize social potential in neighborhoods is of central importance for the future of urban development.

Creating an inclusive, diverse and lively neighborhood is the goal that Lörrach is pursuing by implementing these programs. The participation of the old and young generations not only strengthens cohesion in the community, but also promotes active participation in shaping the environment. With a good hand and the right projects, Lörrach could become a pioneer in neighborhood development.