New playground in Oberrieden: Look forward to great fun for children!

New playground in Oberrieden: Look forward to great fun for children!

A new playground in Oberrieden has been officially opened in Bad Sooden-Allendorf! On June 15, 2025, the time had finally come: the old playground, which had to be closed two years ago for safety reasons, has now received a fresh successor, which is a real benefit, especially for families. The new space was designed with a colorful mix of play equipment that is intended to delight both the little ones and the slightly older ones.

The financing of the new playground is impressive: almost 30,000 euros were collected through sponsors and individual donations, of which the city contributed an impressive 16,000 euros. The mayor Markus Burhenne thanked the various actors, including the municipal building department. Mayor Frank Hix shared his joy about the new playground and praised the generous donors.

A wide range of games for the little ones

In the new playground, children can look forward to a ground-level trampoline, a slide, a mini carousel and seesaw figures. The climbing house, the horizontal bars, the balancing trunk as well as a nest swing and two swings are also included so that the little adventurers can be close. A covered sandpit ensures that the children can have a great time even when the weather is less good. Many of these devices were imported from the Netherlands because they are cheaper there.

The quality and safety of the playground equipment is of the highest priority. This is where the current standards come into play: The latest edition of DIN 18034-1, which was published in October 2020, offers assistance for the planning, construction and operation of playgrounds and ensures that the play needs of all children are taken into account. This standard aims to create family-friendly, barrier-free and inclusive play environments so that children with and without disabilities can equally enjoy playing. Differences in the play equipment and their safety requirements are taken into account, as regulated in DIN EN 1176.

A place for every age group

The new play facility not only places emphasis on fun and safety, but also on the aspect of inclusion. This will be strongly taken into account in the revised standard to ensure that playgrounds are made accessible to all children. In addition to the devices already mentioned, barrier-free play devices are also being planned that must meet special requirements. The current trend shows that communities are placing more and more value on thoughtful and inclusive planning of their playgrounds.

In addition, DIN 18034-1 also ensures that playgrounds are the right size. There should be at least 500 square meters available for children up to 6 years old, and even more than 5,000 square meters for those between 6 and 12 years old. Important requirements are also the shady areas and biotopes that enrich the playing environment. So beyond the new playground, the community has a responsibility to provide its younger citizens with a safe and engaging space to play.

With the new playground in Oberrieden, Bad Sooden-Allendorf has taken a step in the right direction! The children can now let off steam in a variety of ways and the adults can be sure that both safety and accessibility are a top priority. The exciting new equipment is just waiting to be tried out and the local community is excited about their new “place of joy”.