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City of Bonn

Sustainable artificial turf pitch: F.-A.-Schmidt-Platz completed

The conversion of the F.-A.-Schmidt-Platz in Bonn-Dottendorf from a cinder pitch to an artificial turf pitch was completed at the end of February 2025. The pitch can now be used by athletes and clubs again. The City of Bonn's Sports and Baths Department paid particular attention to sustainability aspects during the planning and implementation.

F.-A.-Schmidt-Platz after reconstruction
The F.-A.-Schmidt-Platz after its extensive renovation.

The renovation began in July 2024 and was completed in eight months. First, the square was compacted on one side, in the area of the former pit, with a large roller, a stabilizing geogrid was installed and raised by a total of 30 centimetres.

In the past, waterlogged layers prevented the pitch from drying out properly after rain events. There were often large puddles. For this reason, 1,500 meters of drainage pipe and 460 meters of drainage pipes were newly laid and connected to a 90 cubic meter infiltration trench via modern filter systems. In addition, more than 200 cubic meters of water can be collected on the surface in surrounding terrain troughs, which protects the site from flooding during heavy rainfall.

The old cinder pitch in Dottendorf with large puddles after rain.
This is what the old cinder pitch looked like before the renovation. Large puddles formed when it rained.

The artificial turf is CO²-neutral and made from 60 percent bio-based plastic. A bituminous (petroleum-derived building material) base layer was dispensed with in favor of an environmentally friendly, elastic layer made from recycled PE foam. The paving was laid using large puzzle tiles, which can also be replaced more easily in the future for repairs.

The old floodlights were replaced with low-glare and economical LED lighting with time control. In addition, the barrier filling and grid elements of the old ball catch fence were reused. Ten new bicycle racks were financed by the cycling decision, and all areas of the sports field are now barrier-free.

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, Mayor Katja Dörner, Bonn's district mayor Jochen Reeh-Schall and the FC Hertha Bonn club will officially open the pitch from 11:45 a.m. as part of the youth match operations.

Implementation process and costs

The need to renovate the square had existed since the early 2000s. However, one of the obstacles was the difficult site conditions. In 2020, preliminary design planning was commissioned from the city, followed by the implementation decision in April 2022. Implementation planning was then commissioned in 2023 and the relevant construction companies in 2024. The total costs amount to 2.2 million euros.