After several months of planning and construction, the “new” Bismarck Park was ceremoniously opened yesterday, Monday. In addition to a completely revised design, the employees of the technical service and beach maintenance department of the NBG as well as the Kreye company and the city of Borkum attached great importance to less maintenance and natural planting.

During a tour with city council members in March 2017, the need for development of the area was recognized and a recommendation for action was made to make it tangible. The originally cordoned off area was opened up and used extensively in the spirit of “breathing freedom”. “By dismantling the fence, we wanted to offer both locals and guests on the busy Bismarckstrasse the feeling of freedom and nature that characterizes our entire island. This was wonderfully accepted, but the climatic development with three very dry and hot summers led to open sandy areas in the large area and the planting could no longer recover. In combination with stronger winds, this leads to increased sand flying. The fountain with an artificial seal no longer met hygienic standards and had not been able to be used for some time. Overall it was an area that was very interchangeable and could have been on the mainland. We needed an ecological upgrade. A redesign therefore seemed to be the best solution and we succeeded very well,” says NBG managing director Göran Sell. In addition, the misuse of the site should be prevented. This includes parking bicycles or using them as a dog toilet. At the beginning of 2020, Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH and the commissioned landscape architecture firm Horeis+Blatt invited the residents and Borkum residents of the KITT infrastructure team of the overall “Borkum 2030” project to a joint workshop to discuss wishes and recommendations. This resulted in a requirement profile as to what the “new” Bismarck Park should represent: an experience space that will be remembered by all visitors, an attractive lounge area as a front garden for the restaurant and natural, island-typical vegetation.

With the successful application for funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) via the “Wadden Sea Eight”, 200.000 euros were generated. The first work on redesigning the green area began in spring 2021. “Fences, beds and fixtures were dismantled and the first earthworks were carried out for the later paved area. A temporary terrace solution was then created on this area for the restaurants opposite, which the restaurateurs could use free of charge. To protect against flying sand, the area was covered with foil during the construction break,” reports Gerhard Begemann, head of the “Technical Service & Beach Maintenance” department. “From November onwards, the paving of the 'event area', the laying of the water and electrical cables as well as the planting of beach grass and the installation of the wooden benches began.”

From now on, Borkum residents and guests can enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Bismarck Park in the heart of Borkum on a total area of ​​2.200 square meters.