Königstein is moving: citizens' meeting in the city center on June 23rd!

Königstein is moving: citizens' meeting in the city center on June 23rd!

Königstein is facing a crucial turning point in urban development. On Monday, June 23, 2025, Mayor Beatrice Schenk Motzko invites all citizens to an important citizens' meeting. The event will take place from 7 p.m. in the Haus der Treffen, Bischof-Kaller-Straße 3, in the large hall, with admission starting at 6:30 p.m. This evening the final plans for the redesign of the city center, which have been in the pipeline for over 50 years, will be presented. So Taunus Nachrichten reports that the idea to redesign the city center was born in 1972, but intensive work on the project has only taken place in recent years.

Citizen participation plays a central role in this planning process. The views and suggestions of the population played a decisive role in the developments. This is not only desired by the city administration, but is also a proven concept in urban planning as a whole that involves citizens as active co-creators, as the website [Who thinks what](https:// Werdenktwas.de/verfahren/stadtentwicklung-stadtplanung/) explains. Digital citizen participation is formed, for example, through interactive “idea cards” on which citizens can enter ideas and thus have their voice.

Funding programs and climate-friendly approaches

The redesign not only promises a lively and attractive city center, but also brings with it environmental benefits. Königstein will receive five million euros from the federal program “Adaptation of Urban Spaces to Climate Change”, making the city the only municipality in Hesse to benefit from this support. The funding is time-limited and in high demand, which underlines the urgency of implementation. Mayor Schenk Motzko emphasizes how important it is to use tax money responsibly and to deliver visible results.

As part of the redesign, five main reasons and goals were defined:

• Erhöhung der Aufenthaltsqualität durch neue Grünflächen und Spielbereiche.
• Stärkung des Einzelhandels und der Gastronomie durch verkehrsberuhigte Straßen.
• Klimaschutz durch Entsiegelung und gezielte Bepflanzung.
• Verbesserung der Mobilität durch barrierefreie Haltestellen und ein neues Parkdeck.
• Zukunftsfähige Stadtentwicklung zur Förderung von Wirtschaft und Lebensqualität.

Challenges of urban society

Despite these positive plans, there are also challenges on the agenda that must be addressed in the discussions. Important issues that concern the city society are improving the parking situation for the hospital, the need for barrier-free bus stops and the current pollution on Georg-Pingler-Straße. These aspects must not be lost sight of when it comes to the future design of the city center.

Urban development therefore not only includes the appearance of the city, but is also closely linked to climate-friendly approaches and the quality of life of citizens. The Federal Environment Agency points out that adaptation to the consequences of climate change is becoming increasingly important, with various methods and models being used to predict and plan future developments.

The upcoming citizens' meeting is not only an information event, but also offers the opportunity to actively participate in the future of Königstein. Anyone interested in the development of their city should mark this date in their calendar.