Mindelheim: new biker paradise on the Schwabenwiese?

Created: 01/06/2022, 07:20 AM

From: Marco Tobisch

A meeting place for recreational athletes: on bicycles, BMWs, skateboards, scooters or even on inline skates, users are out and about on a pump track (here in Peißenberg).

© Schneestern / Facebook

Mindelheim - Will the Schwabenwiese soon have a long-term attraction?

As became known at the last city council meeting, the city is planning a so-called “pump track” there - a bike course for young and old. This idea was initiated by the Velo Club and the DAV section Mindelheim.

Half a year ago, Gerhard Groos (chairman of the DAV section) as well as Kaspar Mayer and Jochen Schmid (Velo-Club) met with representatives of the city on the Schwabenwiese. As they explained there, a bike park below the Mindelburg increases the city's recreational value and creates cross-cultural meeting places. With Mayor Dr. Stephan Winter met them with open ears, because the city signaled interest and now invited Gregor Podlesny from the Schneestern company to the city council meeting. Schneestern started planning “snow parks” 20 years ago and has even built Olympic facilities.

In the city council, the representative of the Durach action sports company outlined the target groups for which a “pump track” would be of interest and the costs that can be expected.

According to Podlesny's first estimate, the city will have to pay around 350,000 euros before the "turnkey handover" - although the city also wants to examine funding opportunities, possibly through LEADER.

A precise draft should only be made in the next planning step.

Suitable for different age groups

Podlesny recommends an “urban sports park” that is paved - and which will also make maintenance easier thanks to its professionalization and better surface. Even three to seven year olds could “rump up” there, but Podlesny also considers the facility to be suitable for older Mindelheimer sports enthusiasts. He also rates the attractive location on the Schwabenwiese positively, which is “not in the periphery” and therefore has a high potential of attraction. According to his experience, no excessive noise comes from the system.

Roland Ahne (SPD) not only liked Podlesny's ideas, but also the place below the Mindelburg "very well".

Here you can get children to exercise more, says Ahne.

Due to Corona in particular, such an offer would have to be created for the youth and all those groups that had to back off in the last few months, said Jan-Erik Ahlborn (ÖDP).

Ursula Kiefersauer (MBG) then also emphasized the “need for action in the leisure sector”.

She also noted that the parking lot situation on the Schwabenwiese had to be included in the planning.

Christoph Walter (CSU) was also enthusiastic and complimented the initiators of the clubs.

With the exception of one vote against (Michael Gerle, MBG), the entire city council pledged to pursue the plans.

Marco Tobisch