Free Otto Park

The general public has voted on the redesign of the Frei Otto Park in Chemnitz-Siegmar. The majority voted in favour of the option in which street furniture and information objects about Frei Otto and the history of the park are set up, but without an additional pavilion, which was available as both a temporary and a permanent option. Instead, a large pergola with seating was created. In addition, the park's existing benches and litter bins were either repaired or replaced.

For the long-term preservation of the park, a sustainable planting and maintenance concept is planned with the involvement of the city's landscape conservation trainees, which should make the park fit for the climatic adaptations in an exemplary manner. Sports equipment has also been installed, which can be used by senior citizens and all other age groups.

Anyone interested was able to vote online or by questionnaire on various options for the future design of Frei-Otto-Park. The public participation was accompanied by information in the official gazette and on the social media channels of the city of Chemnitz as well as in the local media, so that a broad public could be reached.

With around 3,000 participants, public interest and participation was very high and shows that an opportunity for citizens to have a say is important and will continue to be realised in the future.

In the course of the Capital of Culture process and the resulting design of the selected intervention areas, the participation of local stakeholders and citizens is a central objective and basis for the success of the projects.

Until the foundation stone of the Siegmar town hall was laid in 1904, the area that is now Frei-Otto-Park was a meadow along the Kappelbach stream - the so-called Kappelbachaue. Even before the completion of the new town hall in the reform style in 1909, the area in front of the town hall was redesigned into a park according to the plans of the gardener Schwarz from Einsiedel (around 1907). The result was a well-kept, architecturally regular ornamental square in front of the town hall, into which children's play areas had already been integrated. At the time of its creation, the park extended as far as the circular path directly by the pond. The extension of Wiesenstraße to Rosmarinstraße divided the park. Here there was a footpath with an iron bridge over the Kappelbach.

The historical basic elements - the curved paths with accompanying tree and shrub vegetation, the open meadow areas and the park pond with a small stream - are still recognisable today. The Kappelbach had already been straightened at the time and thus served as the southern boundary of the park.

With the town charter granted on 17 May 1927 and the merger with Schönau on 1 October 1935, Siegmar(-Schönau) became increasingly prosperous as its population and economic power grew. As a result, the park was extended between 1936 and 1938 and from then on was known as the Siegmar-Schönau town park. The character of the original park was to be retained in the newly developed section. However, the straight connecting path between Wiesenstraße and Rosmarinstraße remained - contrary to the curved and original path layout. The path was also given a roundabout. Only very few trees and shrubs were planted along the new paths. When the park was extended in 1937, it was also decided to build a cycle path.

During the First World War and until 1948, potatoes and other vegetables were grown in the park to ensure survival. Rubble was dumped in the extension of the park. In 1948, the town hall became the headquarters of the Wismut AG company and thus, along with part of the park, a restricted area under the watchful eye of the Soviet occupying forces. The restricted park area was only made accessible again when the Wismut institutions relocated.

In the 1960s, construction work on the park was resumed for the first time. For example, the bridges were renewed and modern play equipment was installed in the children's play area, which previously only contained a sand play area.

In 2016, the city council decided to rename Siegmar Park Frei-Otto-Park. Born in 1925 in Siegmar, not far from the park, the architect achieved great recognition and fame in particular for his unique roof constructions. For example, for the spider web roof over the German tent pavilion for the World Expo in Montreal (1967), especially for the tent roof of the Munich Olympic Stadium (1972), but also many more. Frei Otto died on 9 March 2015 in Leonberg near Stuttgart and posthumously received the Pritzker Prize. One of the most important architecture awards in the world.

As part of the Capital of Culture 2025, new life was breathed into Frei Otto Park to increase its recreational value and quality of stay. The main element is the long bench with pergola, which is located on the roundabout of the connecting path between A.-Weinhold-Straße and Rosmarinstraße and is intended to pay homage to Frei Otto. New fitness equipment has also been integrated, which can be used by several generations. Existing tree and shrub plantings - which are located outside the protected, open meadow areas - have been supplemented with perennials, grasses and geophytes.