München, Germany
City population: 1346481
Duration: 1997 – 2005
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 2100000 m2
Type of area: Previous derelict area
Last updated: October 2021

In 1995 the city of Munich decided to implement a new green residential district in the derelict area of the former Munich-Riem airport which was closed in 1992. (Reference 9) The area was designed to have an intensively used residential area in the north and an extensively used green recreational area in the south. The project was completed in 2005. It is 210 hectares large, making it the third-largest public park in Munich. (Reference 1) The park includes a 10-hectare large artificial lake, a 15-hectare large forest and two 20 meter high artificial observation and toboggan hills made from the demolition material of the former airport. (Reference 9) The park is appreciated by people but concerns about the loss of biodiversity have been raised. Citizens use the park for walking, cycling, swimming in the lake or simply for relaxation. (Reference 4)

Riemer Park: The Lake
http://www.bls-bayern.de/wp-content/uploads/riem-lage-04-1024x682.jpg

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Lakes/ponds

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

- Creation of extensive green areas for the development of the new district near the area of the former airport ; - Following the principle of sustainable urban development set out by the Munich Perspective (Reference 10), "compact, urban, green"; - Creating a model for sustainable urban development; - Ensuring biotype networks, guaranteeing biodiversity; - Increasing accessibility to green areas, creating opportunities for recreation. (Reference 1).

Implementation activities

- A 15-hectare large forest was planted using local species, that is 8.5 hectares of oak, hornbeam and linden forest, 4.4 hectares of oak and pine forest and 2.1 hectares of forest edges with 20 different types of trees and Planting altogether 21.400 trees and 32.800 shrubs and hedgerows (Reference 1, 2) - Creating paths for pedestrians - Creating a 10-hectare large lake by pumping ground water to the surface. - Creation of residential areas where 16,000 people could live - Two 20-meter-high artificial observation and toboggan hills made from the demolition material of the former airport (Reference 9)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The financing of a project Messestadt of Riem would not have been possible within the budget of the state capital Munich and thus private companies were involved. The MRG (Munich Reed GmbH) was founded in October 1993 by Bayerische Baubetreuungs GmbH (BABAG) and GBWAG Bayerische Wohnungs-Aktiengesellschaft. The tasks of the MRG include, in particular, the implementation of the technical, social and cultural infrastructure. Besides the construction of roads, it includes the construction of sewage canals and public green spaces, the construction of the Riemer Park, the construction of schools, children's playgrounds and sports facilities (Reference 7).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The plans were supervised by the city's Department of Horticulture and Department of Green Planning (Reference 1). The documents of the project refer to the city's sustainable urban development strategy, to the Perspective Munich, which has green strategy as well (Reference 1).)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Loan
  • Other

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Enhanced carbon sequestration
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Increase in GDP
  • Attraction of business and investment

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Increased appreciation for natural spaces

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Landeshauptstadt München. (2005) Der Riemer Park: ein park ohne Grenzen. München: Landeshauptstadt München. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
2. Messmer, C. (2014). Vom wilden Naturparadies zum ordentlichen Großstadtpark. Take off! Stadtteilzeitung der Messestadt-Riem. (53), pp. 8-9. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
3. Häuser, H. (2014). Der Riemer Park – ein Drittel kleiner als geplant: Der große Unvollendete. Take off! Stadtteilzeitung des Messestadt-Riem. (53), pp. 12-13. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
4. Takeoff! (2014) Wofür nutzen Sie den Riemen Park?Take off! Stadtteilzeitung des Messestadt-Riem. Available at: Source link (53), p. 14. [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
5. Source link. (2017) Riemer Park. [online] Available at: Source link 29 Jul. 2020].
6. Source link. (2017) Riemer Park. [image]. Available at: Source link 29 Jul. 2020].
7. Landeshauptstadt München (2005). Messestadt Riem Vom Flugfeld zum neuen Stadtteil – eine Zwischenbilanz. München: Landeshauptstadt München. Available at:Source link [Accessed: 29 Jul. 2020]
8. Lezuo, D. (2016) Wie kommt der Entwurf zur Landschaft? Kalsruhe: Scientific Publishing. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 Jul. 2020]
9. Source link. (2019). Riemer Park. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 Jul. 2020]
10. Source link (2020). Riemer Wald. [online]. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 Jul. 2020]
11. Department of Urban Planning and Building Regulation. (1998). Munich: Future Perspective. Munich: Department of Urban Planning and Building Regulation.
Riemer Park: Pedestrian Path
https://images.cdn.baunetz.de/img/2/4/6/0/9/63de3d500552c3fa.jpg