From cups to benches: Heinsberger playground fights for exclusion!

From cups to benches: Heinsberger playground fights for exclusion!

On April 23, 2025, the CEO of the association The playground Band e.V. , Claudia Franzen, started a remarkable exchange campaign. This initiative pursues the goal of supporting the construction of an inclusive playground in Heinsberg. Inspired by the history of blogger Kyle Macdonald, who obtained a single -family house through skillful exchange shops, Franzen called on to exchange various objects for a cup of the club logo in mid -March.

The response to this call was overwhelming. Many people from the region offered creative exchange objects. These included a lunch box from a tax consultant from Oberbruch, consumption vouchers from the parent-child café "Little Moon" in Heinsberg, a wooden bike from Erkelenz, as well as a embroidered baby set from Karken. Particularly noteworthy is a voucher for a photo shoot by Minchen Photography in Hückelhoven and a voucher from the China Garten Wegberg. In the second week of April there was even a voucher for a family annual card from the Kirchhoven outdoor pool.

commitment to inclusion

The project to create an inclusive playground is not only supported by private donors, but also by organizations. Lebenshilfe Heinsberg has registered with an offer for support. Stefan Erfurth, commercial managing director of Lebenshilfe Heinsberg, suggested installing a special bank for exclusion on the new playground. These benches, which have the slogan "no place for exclusion", are already widespread in Germany and neighboring European countries and offer an important message for social integration.

The manufacture of these benches takes place in the carpentry of Deinwerk gGmbH, while the Heinsberg artist Markus M. Sommer is responsible for their design. Claudia Franzen thanked not only at Lebenshilfe for their support, but also with Markus M. Sommer for his commitment in this important project.

The goal of the project

The foundation of the association The playground Band e.V. With committed parents in the district of Heinsberg, the goal of creating an inclusive playground in the district of Heinsberg by 2025. The planned location is in Heinsberg-Lieck, supplemented by a multifunctional sports and venue. In doing so, value is placed on equipment that benefits all children, regardless of impairments. These include play equipment, a guiding system for children with visual impairment, barrier-free paths and retreats.

The total cost of the playground amounts to up to 300,000 euros, which are borne by both the association and by the city of Heinsberg. Mayor Kai Louis also supported the project, which is a valuable basis for the future success of the project. To ensure financing, sponsors and donations are required that can be requested via the association's homepages.

The project also places emphasis on transparency. The progress in planning and building the playground is regularly documented on the association's homepage in order to keep the community up to date on the development. Information on the importance of inclusive games can be found in studies by the company game institute, which are available at this Link