Parkbogen Ost – von Bahnflächen zum grünen Aktivband

The Parkbogen Ost (Pabo) in Leipzig was initiated by a group of citizens of Leipzig. They had the Idea to repurpose the former train tracks of the railway line surrounding the eastern neighbourhoods. The Task was to improve the connection of the neighbourhoods with the city centre of Leipzig and at the same time improve the quality of life in the neighbouring districts. The Pabo was also planned to serve as a sustainable solution for improved mobility (mostly Walking and cycling) and as a green oasis in Leipzig.
The Pabo project encompasses an eight-kilometre-long green belt connecting the east of Leipzig with footpaths, cycle paths and active areas. The aim of this measure was not only to improve the accessibility of neighbourhoods, but also to create new leisure, sports and recreational opportunities. An important aspect was the integration of the various forms of mobility on an equal footing. A key success factor was the close cooperation between the city administration, various authorities, external partners and the local population. Active public participation is one of the main pillars of the project, which helped in gaining the support for the project of the population.
Important sections of the cycle and footpath network have already been completed, green spaces created and existing bridges renovated. The implemented measures not only contribute to the promotion of environmentally friendly transport, but also improve the quality of life for residents through additional leisure opportunities and a higher quality of stay in the neighbourhoods concerned.
The project is being implemented in several phases, with the overall concept being realised over several years, still ongoing thanks to follow-up funding. The process was supported by a variety of funding, including EU funds from the ERDF, both in the 2014-2020 funding period and in the current funding period. The continuous implementation of the project with funding, particularly from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), shows that the concept is sustainable and viable in the long term. In addition, the quality of life of local residents has been noticeably improved thanks to new open spaces and better transport links. Despite challenges such as the pandemic, the project was able to achieve important milestones.
Coordinating the many sub-projects and handling the renovation of listed infrastructure such as the Viaduct in Sellerhausen proved challenging at times. Furthermore, the pandemic hindered many public participation formats and limited them to a smaller scale and number. Despite these hurdles, the close co-operation between the various municipal departments and external partners as well as the provision of funding enables the realisation of this project.

The results and effects of the Parkbogen Ost are already clearly visible. The interventions completed to date include the redesign of the route of the Parkbogen Ost, the construction of a barrier-free public access route with stairs and ramps to this very route and the increase in the proportion of green space in the east of Leipzig and improvement of the climatic situation in the neighbourhood by planting of trees and shrubs.

The creation of a green belt linking pedestrian and cycle paths can serve as a model for other cities facing similar challenges in terms of urban development, traffic management and climate adaptation. Especially in cities with former industrial areas and derelict land, the conversion to public open spaces is a good idea.
An important success factor is the continuous follow-up funding, which is ensured by both national programmes and the EU's Social Cohesion Programme (SZP). This funding enables not only the implementation of individual project sections, but also the long-term, gradual development of the entire park arc, which ensures the realisation of the project to a high quality.

https://www.leipzig.de/bauen-und-wohnen/stadterneuerung-in-leipzig/stadterneuerungsprojekte/parkbogen-ost/