At its meeting on February 9, 2023, the Bonn City Council approved the annual application for urban development funding for both construction measures. The city administration is expecting grants from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia totaling around 8.7 million euros. "The annual funding application for 2023 will enable the financing of two key urban projects. Firstly, the redesign of the Rhine embankment promenade with new qualities and secondly, the unsealing and redesign of Stiftplatz to create a new green oasis for the people who live and work here," says Mayor Katja Dörner.
First construction phase of the Rhine embankment promenade
The banks of the Rhine play a key role as a leisure and recreational area for all people living in and visiting Bonn. More greenery, attractive recreational areas and a variety of uses are to be created during the redesign. To this end, the now traffic-calmed, 1.5-kilometre-long section is to become a boulevard for strolling and lingering.
The conversion is planned in individual construction phases. The first construction phase (between Josefstrasse and Alter Zoll) is scheduled to begin at the end of 2023, the second construction phase (north of Josefstrasse to Rosental) in 2025 and finally the third construction phase (Alter Zoll to Zweite Fährgasse) from 2027.
The eligible expenditure for the first construction phase amounts to 10.4 million euros. With funding of 7.3 million euros (70 percent), the city's own contribution remains at 3.1 million euros.
Abbey Square
Due to its location, Stiftsplatz plays an important role in the development of the city center: as a central link, it connects Bonn's city center with the Beethovenhalle and the Rhine. By upgrading the design of the area, which until now has mainly been used as a parking lot, Stiftsplatz offers great potential to become an open space and place to spend time that is close to residential and working areas.
Generous green and open spaces will be created by unsealing, with bands of perennials, new flowering trees and different types of lawn. Two small, multifunctional entree areas will be created at both ends of the Stiftsplatz, which will also pay special tribute to the listed fountain and the collegiate church.
This project is also to be implemented from the end of 2023. The eligible expenditure amounts to around 1.9 million euros. A 70 percent subsidy is also assumed here, i.e. 1.3 million euros. The city's own contribution amounts to 600,000 euros.
Further information on both projects is available on the Internet at: https: //www.bonn.de/masterplan-innere-stadt (opens in a new tab)
The draft resolution is published here (opens in a new tab).