After five months of construction, the new multi-purpose slab area for the independent art scene on the east side of Richard Wagner Grove by the Elster basin is now ready for use. From now on, people can dance, juggle, play and do sports on around 170 square meters.
Leipzig's Mayor of the Environment Heiko Rosenthal: "Both sides of Richard Wagner Grove are popular. The east side will be even more diverse with the new multifunctional area, offering a great alternative to the activities established in the water basins on the west side."
The new area is located at a higher level and was originally designed as a "memorial square" for Richard Wagner Grove. Existing materials such as large-format granite slabs were laid and reused for the design. In order to promote dance, juggling and sport, particular attention was paid to the evenness of the surface with minimal joints. Several wooden pallet sofas were temporarily installed and grass was sown until the entire area was renovated.
Since 2018, the culturally and historically valuable gardens on both sides of the Elster basin have been continuously and carefully renovated and upgraded under the direction of the Office for Urban Greenery and Water. The five water basins in the western Richard Wagner Grove are being renovated at the same time. The stakeholders on the western side were involved in the planning of the eastern side.
The creation of the area under the direction of the Office for Housing and Urban Renewal was funded by the urban development program "Lebendige Zentren" in the "ZSP zwischen Auwald und Promenadengrün" development area. Of the total costs of around 120,000 euros, 80,000 euros are being financed by the funding program and 40,000 euros by the City of Leipzig.
