Cologne is abolishing playgrounds: 700 new names for the future!

Cologne is abolishing playgrounds: 700 new names for the future!

There is an exciting project in the air in Cologne. The city isn't afraid to break with tradition and is planning to rename as many as 700 playgrounds. The reason for this radical measure? Loud Focus Children and young people should not feel welcome in many areas. The outdated signs give the impression that the sites are for children only. But do the residents who are against the renaming agree with this change?

A meeting of the Youth Welfare Committee in September 2023 has already shown that opinions are divided. It was unanimously decided to start a participatory process with children and young people to design new playground signs. This should not only give the children a voice, but also allow their needs to be taken into account more strongly in city planning. The costs for this renaming amount to a manageable 38,000 euros, which is a surprise given initial fears that spoke of over 400,000 euros.

The background to the name change

However, the renaming won't happen overnight. Ultimately, the new signs must first be approved by the city council and will be replaced as part of general renewal or renovation work. This shows that those responsible are thinking carefully about how they can make the spaces more suitable for children and young people. This not only renews the visual impression, but also creates an awareness of the needs of the little ones.

In addition to these local political aspects, there is also a national dimension to consider. As part of a technical discussion by the Children's Commission of the German Bundestag, which last took place on June 9, 2021, the topic of “child-friendly living spaces for all children” was discussed intensively. Prominent voices, such as Dominik Bär from the Child-Friendly Municipalities Association, called for better recognition of children's rights in politics and the implementation of these rights in urban planning. Important questions about social justice and the distribution of housing were also addressed. There is a strong focus on greater participation for children and child-friendly transport and urban planning, as has been discussed more and more openly in debates in recent years.

A step into the future?

The city of Cologne's project could not only be a local step in the right direction, but could also serve as an example for other cities. Child-friendly initiatives must not only be well-intentioned, but also well-implemented. The signs are exchanged in the Rhineland sense: with a good hand that responds to the needs of future generations and ensures that they can really feel comfortable in their city. The first renaming could already be considered during the next renovation work - another small but important step towards a more child-friendly society.