Dorfen is planning new playground regulations: bigger, better, more social!

Dorfen is planning new playground regulations: bigger, better, more social!

In Dorfen, a new draft for playground regulations is causing a lot of conversation. The Building and Transport Committee recently approved the revised statutes, which became necessary due to the reform of the Bavarian Building Code. The aim is to place the responsibility for building playgrounds in the hands of municipalities. According to the report by Mercury Building authority manager Franz Wandinger explained that the statutes are based on model statutes from the Bavarian Municipal Association and the City Council and contain clear guidelines for the production and maintenance of play areas.

The new regulations state that buildings with more than five apartments must have a playground. To be more precise, at least 1.5 square meters of playground space is required for every 25 square meters of living space, taking into account a floor area of ​​at least 50 square meters. These playgrounds must also be equipped with a play sand area, fixed play equipment and seating.

Discussion about the size of the playgrounds

At the meeting, CSU city councilor Ludwig Rudolf was particularly concerned about the planning of small playgrounds. He advocated for larger play areas to meet the social needs of children. This was supported by other members of the committee, but there were also critical voices. Barbara Lanzinger (CSU) described the transfer fees that are due for unbuilt playgrounds as too high and warned of rising construction costs.

The city has the option of taking over responsibility for the construction and maintenance of the playgrounds from the developer through a transfer agreement. In order to specifically quantify the financial burden, a guideline land value of 750 euros per square meter is used. This means that the transfer fee for an 80 square meter playground would be around 41,000 euros. This sum is not considered justified by everyone; Andreas Hartl from GAL criticized the financial considerations and pointed out that playgrounds also fulfill an important social function.

Regulations according to Bavarian building regulations

The Bavarian building regulations stipulate that undeveloped areas on built-up properties must also be taken into account with regard to their greenery. Areas intended for playgrounds are in accordance with Bavaria laws to be designed so that they are water-absorbent and limited or planted to avoid soil sealing. These regulations underline the importance of playgrounds as part of a sustainably designed living environment.

The issue of playgrounds is not only of great importance for villages, but also a central element in the entire living area, which goes beyond the social concerns of children. Loud Law Forum The legal requirements for planning and maintaining playgrounds in Germany are comprehensive, and there are clear guidelines for safety and accessibility.

The discussion about the draft playground statutes will continue at one of the upcoming city council meetings. A final decision is still pending and stakeholders are optimistic that a solution can be found that meets the needs of the villagers.