Many parents will breathe a sigh of relief, because it is at least a small step in the right direction: from Monday, May 4, Frankfurt's playgrounds will be open again. Then it is allowed to slide and swing again for all it's worth. Of course, care should be taken that the places do not become too crowded and that parents as well as children keep to the distance rules if possible. This relaxation of the measures to contain the Corona pandemic, together with the forthcoming reopening of the Zoo and Palmengarten, will increase the opportunities for outdoor recreation. And that is immensely important, especially in a big city like Frankfurt, for families with young children.
Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann knows this too: "For many families, it was not an easy time. The schools and daycare centers: closed, many children only in virtual contact with friends. With the reopening of the playgrounds, we are now taking an important step back towards normality for our children", said Feldmann. Together with Rosemarie Heilig, head of the environment department, the city leader had visited the playground in Holzhausenpark on Sunday at noon to already personally remove the flutter tapes that have been blocking the playground equipment in the parks and facilities of our city for weeks.
Umweltdezernentin Rosemarie Heilig is pleased about the opening: "It was not a nice sight to see the playgrounds orphaned - children and their families are quite an essential part of life in our city and the playgrounds also social meeting place of many citizens. It is good that we can now use them again in compliance with the applicable contact and hygiene requirements."
As a result of the amended Corona Ordinance of the State of Hesse, Frankfurt playgrounds, forest play parks, ball fields as well as play meadows may be used again from May 4. The employees of the Parks Department will be on duty from early in the morning to remove all barrier tapes as far as possible, to reopen closed playgrounds and to check them. Around 430 playgrounds, 100 football pitches, 54 play meadows and eight woodland play parks will then be available again. Public sports and fitness facilities, however, will still remain closed. By the way, the red and white flutter tapes, 25 kilometers of which were used for the closures, will not be thrown away. Rosemarie Heilig has lobbied for them to become part of an art project.
