Munich: Sonnenstraße is to become "Central Park" - Spectacular vision

Created: 03/22/2022, 20:42

By: Klaus Vick

Dreary traffic or "Munich Central Park" - Sonnenstraße in Munich should become a green oasis.

© Schmidt/Bund Naturschutz

Hundreds of trees, plenty of space for pedestrians and bike paths - and only one lane in each direction.

The Bund Naturschutz proposes the Sonnenstraße as a green belt.

A "Central Park" in Munich.

Munich - A green belt in the center instead of the old town ring - that's what the Bund Naturschutz proposes.

For the parking project, lanes would have to give way, pedestrians, cyclists and the tram would have more space.

The SPD and the Greens are open to the plans, while the CSU is critical.

Vision "Munich Central Park" - right in the heart of Munich

It's a vision.

But a realistic one, says Martin Hänsel from the Bund Naturschutz: "You just have to take heart and show courage," he says.

The idea of ​​the deputy managing director of the BN Group Munich: a green oasis in the heart of the old town instead of the roaring traffic noise.

Or to put it bluntly: a “Munich Central Park”.

Munich Sonnenstrasse: Green Belt from Sendlinger Tor to Brienner Strasse

In Munich, it should run along the Altstadtring from the Sendlinger Tor via the Stachus to the Place of the Victims of National Socialism on Briennerstrasse.

Hänsel presented the plans on Tuesday together with BN project manager Katharina Horn.

According to the nature conservationist, the city would kill two birds with one stone by reallocating the space on Sonnenstrasse.

Hänsel: "The park not only creates quality of stay on this axis, but also helps to reduce enormous heat waves caused by climate change."

Green park against the threat of heat waves in Munich

Studies by the Technical University of Munich said that the peak temperatures in the city could rise from 37 to around 45 degrees in the coming decades if more greenery were not used to counteract this.

Experts from the German Weather Service warned of extreme summer heat in Munich in 2020.

The city council in Munich declared a climate emergency in 2019.

By 2035, the city is now to become climate-neutral.

On Tuesday, Hansel spoke of 500 to 700 new trees to be planted.

The existing plane trees in the middle of the old town ring would be preserved.

The new room layout would look like a widened promenade for pedestrians on both sides of the ring.

This was followed by two cycle paths marked in red.

Then the car lanes would follow - only one in each direction - and finally the tram tracks, which would have to be relocated to the outside.

According to Hänsel, the central park would be up to 30 meters wide.

However, according to the Bund Naturschutz, the city would have to act quickly and set the course for tree planting and a conversion of the road as early as next year.

"Then a green boulevard Sonnenstraße would be possible by 2035," believe Hänsel and Horn.

Regarding the possible costs, the BN representatives said: "It will certainly not be cheap, so not ten to 20 million euros." Long-term profit beckons, as Hansel says: "Munich dares to do something and turns a city highway into a park. "

Green oasis in the middle of Munich: This is what the Sonnenstraße should look like according to plans by the Bund Naturschutz.

© Bund Naturschutz

Green park in the old town - this is how the city of Munich reacts

The town hall government is open to the plans.

According to the SPD, the idea is expressly supported.

Together with Mayor Dieter Reiter, the parliamentary group wants to examine the idea of ​​expanding the planned Sonnenstraße boulevard and at the same time have the administration work out a timeline for the fastest possible implementation of the car-reduced old town.

The spokesman for transport policy, Nikolaus Gradl, says: "A boulevard, extended by a park, would create a significantly better quality of life.

The task now is to work out a coherent concept with all the relevant players and implement it immediately.

We don't want to waste any time.”

Munich Central Park Vision

The Greens speak of an "attractive idea" to design public spaces differently.

Group leader Florian Roth explains: "In times of advancing climate change, we want to give the city center back to the people and consistently reduce car traffic here."

This is what it currently looks like on Sonnenstrasse in Munich.

© Achim Frank Schmidt

New park on Sonnenstrasse: criticism from the ranks of the CSU

At the CSU, on the other hand, skepticism prevails.

Mainly because of the relocation of the tram tracks, the restrictions on car traffic and the question of costs.

Environmental policy spokesman Sebastian Schall says: “It must continue to be possible for Munich residents to drive to the local doctors.

Craftsmen and tradespeople must continue to be able to reach the old town without any problems.”

Munich has changed rapidly.

This is shown by a journey through the city from 2018: This is what Sonnenstraße, Kaufingerstraße and Maximilianeum looked like back then.

According to forecasts, 1.84 million people will live in Munich in 2040.

300,000 more than currently.

Munich is bursting at the seams.

But what does the future of the city look like then?