Freie Wähler and “Für Karlsruhe”: Trees to be planted on the market square!

“Good things come to those who wait,” as the saying goes. The Free Voters and the “FÜR Karlsruhe” voter group proposed greening and shading the market square back in 2019 and went one better in 2022 by applying for trees to be planted in the parlor. Since then, 1.5 years have passed and the city council group’s proposal has been through three municipal council meetings and several committees. On Tuesday, the vote was finally taken shortly before Christmas. With different signs, 4 instead of 5 trees and no deadlines.

This showed support across the breadth of the municipal council. However, the municipal council was unable to agree on an accelerated procedure and planting as early as 2025. “We are happy that we were finally able to get trees on the way,” said city councillor Petra Lorenz, who represented city councillor Friedemann Kalmbach, “it was a tough road and it will finally be good, even if it will be well after 2025.” A good compromise has now been found in the 1.5 years. An original visualization had already been available for several years, and in spring the CDU brought further pictures of trees on the market square for the decision-making process. However, these also illustrated what the market square could look like in the future.

The mobile greening and shading, as suggested in 2019, is now also on track. Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup announced at a press conference on Monday that 20 trees would be planted in tubs. Although the trees have less space in them than in the four raised beds and safety must be ensured during storms, they improve the microclimate on the heat-stricken, glaring stone pavement, especially in summer.