City planning officer Michael Tacke welcomed the many guests and thanked them in advance for their participation, as all opinions are important for the work of the two planning offices and the administration. "You live in the neighborhoods and are experts. You can get involved and make a difference."

He explained that the city council had decided that the Swindonstrasse and Kampstrasse/Saldersche Strasse residential areas should be examined with so-called preparatory studies to determine whether there was a need for redevelopment and improvement.

In principle, the living conditions in the two districts are good, but the districts are to be designed with a view to the future. To this end, ideas are being collected and surveys carried out.

This was explained by Lisa Nieße from the planning office plan zwei, who, together with her team, collected the ideas on site at the theme tables, talked to people and will continue to visit the neighborhoods over the next few months.

"We want to learn from you. What's going on locally? What is good? What is bad?". These and other answers are needed for the groundwork.

She referred to the online survey and that it was also possible to have the questionnaire sent to you or to communicate your concerns/ideas in writing, by telephone or verbally.

This was also emphasized by Carsten Schäfer from PLANUNGSGRUPPE STADTBÜRO, who, together with his team, got into conversation with the citizens at the topic tables. Beforehand, he presented the different structures of the two districts (for example, residential development, age structure and population development).

The participants were then able to write down their ideas at the various topic tables "Housing and surroundings", "Traffic/mobility", "Environment/green/climate impact adaptation", "Business/health" and "Social issues/togetherness" and attach them to an enlarged aerial photograph of the respective neighborhood using a small wooden skewer. The guests exchanged ideas with each other and also with the teams from the planning offices and the administration.

In an initial brief review, the lighting and safety in the city park were mentioned several times, as well as the market square at Schölkegraben and the question of whether it could be used for other events such as festivals or flea markets. The question of more opportunities for children to play in both neighborhoods was also raised, as was the question of more places for older people to spend time.

The offices evaluated all the results of this kick-off workshop and also took the previously written "greetings for the future" with them: Postcards on which the citizens wrote how they imagine their neighborhoods in the future and what they would like for their place of residence.

Lisa Nieße thanked everyone for their participation that evening and hopes to see them again at the final workshop in the fall. But until then, everyone has the opportunity to share their ideas (see below).