City council approves allotment garden concept 2020
At its meeting yesterday, the Chemnitz city council adopted the "Chemnitz allotment garden concept - perspective 2020" (B-010/2013). The concept outlines the expected developments in the city's allotment garden sector and provides recommendations for action based on this.
The concept picks up on current developments and topics such as sustainability and ecological management, which are once again focussing more attention on inner-city garden use. The need for the current 2nd update of the allotment garden concept results from a predicted decline in population, increasing average age and processes of urban redevelopment.
The concept is based on a survey of the Chemnitz allotment garden associations and allotment gardeners, site inspections and the analysis of various spatial and functional factors. The most important results are The allotment garden movement is facing a far-reaching generational change due to the age structure of the allotment gardeners in Chemnitz. And it can be assumed that the demand for allotment gardens and plots will also decrease due to the expected population decline. In addition, the demand for gardens varies both among the different allotment garden sites in the city and among the plots within allotment garden sites. This is due not only to the varying attractiveness of the plots and sites, but also to population movements within the city centre.
Against this background, the allotment garden concept presents strategies and recommendations for action to help maintain the attractiveness of Chemnitz's allotment gardens and plots and to increase their appeal, especially for young people and families. The recommendations show ways of adapting the allotment gardens and sites more closely to spatial and functional developments, while at the same time raising public awareness of the benefits of allotment gardening. For example, suggestions are made for a stronger integration of the allotment garden sites into the city's open space system and its network of footpaths and cycle paths. In addition, the concept also contains recommendations for upgrading the design of the sites and for preserving and maintaining historical structures and site components.
It also presents ways to emphasise the benefits of garden use, e.g. by highlighting the value of sustainable management or growing your own plants.
Last but not least, the concept recommends measures to get young people and families with children interested in having their own garden. This applies to high-profile events, family-friendly facilities on allotment sites and cooperation with daycare centres, schools and clubs.
Overall, there has been a slight increase in the number of allotment garden associations in Chemnitz in recent years. While there were 202 associations in 1997, there were already 215 in 2011. The number of allotment garden plots also increased slightly from 17,280 in 1997 to 17,458 in 2011. This is also accompanied by an increase in the urban allotment garden area from 625 to 628 hectares in the same period.
The demand for allotment gardens in the Chemnitz city area already varies greatly and often differs between the individual sites. The condition and attractiveness of the gardens as well as their location in the urban area have a strong influence on this.