On the day of urban development funding 2023 on May 13th, the city of Borkum and Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH invite all interested citizens and guests to an “open roadstead day” from 10.45 a.m. After the opening words from the city, the day begins at 11.00 a.m. with Natt & Drög and a fun run for everyone. The dike section around the SAR helicopter landing pad will be opened especially for the fun run.

Companies, institutions and clubs based on the roadstead introduce themselves and allow a look behind the scenes. From craft businesses to gastronomy to the youth hostel “Am Wattenmeer”, a varied program awaits all visitors. The national park lightship “BORKUMRIFF”, the youth hostel, the Nabrotzky bakery, the offshore quarters, the restaurant “Dock 7” as well as the harbor café “Burkana”, “Mackie Messer” and the marina are opening their doors. “We are pleased that so many companies based on the roadstead have decided to take part in the German Urban Development Day,” says NBG event manager Thorben Stalke. Participants in the fun run for everyone can simply register in the start and finish area up to 30 minutes before the starting signal. This is located at the end of Reedestrasse, behind the public parking spaces. The route itself leads along the Reedestrasse and back over the Wadden Sea promenade, where there are unique views of the Wadden Sea and the salt marshes.

Borkum was the only island community to be included in the federal-state program “Urban Redevelopment West” in 2019 and was able to look forward to a funding amount of 13 million euros for the next few years. These serve to make the Reede district more attractive and modernize it. In 2022, the spa district was finally included in the urban development funding program. The municipality will receive a total of 22,5 million euros from the corresponding funding pot for the renovation of the district. As early as 2021, following a resolution by the city council, the city began to look more closely at the conceptual urban development of the spa district. Here, too, a preparatory study (VU) was developed in a thorough dialogue with citizens in order to determine the most urgent need for action. The planned investments include the renovation of the Gezeitenlandes, the redesign of Bismarckstrasse, the renovation/reconceptualization of the Kulturinsel, the modernization of individual buildings and the improvement of the quality of stay at Leuchtturmplatz.

“The city of Borkum and Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH have invested in the creation of conceptual foundations on behalf of the Borkum city council in recent years. Numerous people from Borkum were involved in the process. Investments and citizen commitment are now paying off: On the basis of Borkum 2030, ISEK and VU, the federal and state governments are supporting the upcoming urban development of the Reede district and the spa district with over 35 million euros. I would like to thank everyone who supported the process and contributed to this great success. We would like to celebrate these successes and what has been achieved with the Urban Development Funding Day,” say Mayor Jürgen Akkermann and NBG Managing Director Göran Sell.

Since 2015, the Urban Development Funding Day has been held annually in many cities and municipalities, with the aim of informing the public about the federal and state funding programs. On May 13, 2023, the action day will be held for the first time on the North Sea island of Borkum in order to make the corresponding projects and renovations on the Reede peninsula visible and present them.