New life for the Linz powder tower: youth designed with!

Die Stadt Linz gestaltet das Umfeld um den Pulverturm neu, um attraktive Räume für Jugendliche zu schaffen. Umfrageergebnisse werden einbezogen.
The city of Linz is redesigning the environment around the powder tower to create attractive rooms for young people. Poll results are included. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

New life for the Linz powder tower: youth designed with!

The environment of the historical powder tower in Linz is currently being redesigned. As part of a Smart City project, young people have introduced their ideas for the redesign of the area. Security plays a central role in this, as well as the creation of sports facilities and a natural design in which old trees should be preserved. This is reported by the Rhein-Zeitung .

In November 2024 there was an online survey that aimed specifically on the needs and wishes of children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18. The aim of this survey was to make the environment attractive to this age group. The survey is part of a comprehensive initiative of the city of Linz, which aims to create new residence and sports areas for the youth.

redesign plans for the powder tower

The renovation of the powder tower itself was completed in 2023. Against the background of the positive development, the city of Linz is now planning to redesign the square around the tower and the former daycare center of "Zehntgasse 6". According to information from Smarte region Linz , these measures should serve to create an inviting environment for younger people.

The redesign comprises three central areas:

  • former daycare center: The kindergarten is to be demolished here to make room for a skate park or a small playing field. The greening and shading by trees is also taken into account. In addition, measures for security and attractiveness such as vandalism-proof furniture and design rooms are intended for street art.
  • space with old toilet facility: The old toilet system is torn down at this point. A covered seating group and the installation of a drinking well are planned. The tree population should also be preserved and integrated into the new green area design.
  • Square at the powder tower: This area should remain as undeveloped as possible in order to obtain the unique photo backdrop. Here the list of calisthenics devices and recreation areas in the form of bank groups is proposed.

The results of the online survey will be supplemented in the near future by workshops that are to take place in early 2025. These workshops are to be carried out in cooperation with young people and representatives of youth associations in order to develop a design concept. The city administration and the engineering group Steen-Meyers-Schmiddem support this process, and the final concept is digitized in terms of politics and presented to the responsible committees.

The implementation of the redesign measures will take place after the city council consent and aims to be completed by the end of 2026. The committed young people still have the opportunity to actively participate in this planning and execution process.

This initiative not only upgraded the environment of the powder tower, but also set a sign of youth participation in Linz. The focus on environmental friendliness and the creation of attractive leisure activities show that the city is investing in the future of its younger generation.

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