The newly redesigned promenade along the River Aa is set to open this week

The Boggeter Promenade along the Bocholter Aa will reopen to pedestrians and cyclists later this week. The newly designed area connects the kubaai district directly with Neutorplatz and the town centre. As well as a modern cycle path and footpath, the area - covering around 4,000 square metres - offers new play and leisure facilities for the people of Bocholt.

The town of Bocholt has successfully completed the extensive redevelopment work on the Boggeter Promenade. Following its opening this week, the newly redesigned area is now available to residents and all visitors to the town. Covering a total area of around 4,000 square metres, the promenade has undergone a fundamental landscape upgrade.

A key element of the redesign is the significant improvement to the transport infrastructure for environmentally friendly local transport. The new tarmac cycle path is four metres wide and thus meets the quality standards of a cycle expressway.

Running parallel to this is a separate, paved footpath, approximately two and a half metres wide, which provides a safe space for pedestrians. This improved route significantly enhances the connection between the kubaai, Neutorplatz and Bocholt town centre.

In addition to its purely transport-related function, the Boggeter Promenade now offers even more opportunities to linger and play. A newly created play area, covering around 400 square metres, has been fitted with various play equipment, including a swing and an inclusive play ship that enables barrier-free access. Numerous new benches, picnic tables and loungers offer a wide range of opportunities for relaxation right by the water.

""With this modernisation, we are linking the kubaai district even more closely with our town centre whilst at the same time creating a vibrant meeting place,"" says Mayor Christian Mangen regarding the redevelopment. ""Across around 4,000 square metres, we have achieved an excellent balance here between sustainable mobility and a high quality of life for visitors,"" says Mangen. Head of Urban Planning Dave Welling adds: ""Bocholt is a cycling town. The new cycle path, in particular, is a real highlight. It connects the kubaai site and the Aasee with Bocholt's town centre".

The site has also undergone a significant ecological enhancement. As part of the works, the town of Bocholt has planted ten solitary trees, around 55 shrubs and approximately 7,800 perennials and grasses. In addition, around 1,000 square metres of new lawns have been sown. Five large, landmark trees that are characteristic of the local landscape tower over the redesigned area and provide shade in summer.

These measures improve the urban climate and transform the promenade along the River Aa into a green oasis within the urban environment.

Funding from urban development grants

The total contract value for the construction work on the Boggeter Promenade amounts to around 690,000 euros. The project as a whole is receiving significant support from various public funding programmes. For example, the construction of the new cycle and footpath was funded through the special programme "Stadt und Land%$. The funding rate for this infrastructure project is 86.36 per cent, of which 3.18 per cent is financed by federal funds.

In addition, funding of 274,000 euros was approved from the urban development grant scheme for the creation of the accompanying open spaces, including the associated planning services, which corresponds to a funding rate of 60 per cent of eligible expenditure.

The municipal waste management and services company (ESB) is currently carrying out some remaining work on the site, so that the redesigned area can be reopened to traffic and public use before the end of this week.