Sports field at Pier 22: Ecological, innovative and opening tomorrow!

Sports field at Pier 22: Ecological, innovative and opening tomorrow!

A lot is happening in Vienna - and on Friday, October 17th, the new sports field at Pier 22 will be ceremoniously opened. This facility, which covers around 13,000 square meters and already received a lot of praise when it was handed over, is part of the comprehensive transformation of the former “Sunken City” into a popular leisure area. MeinBezirk has already reported on the completion, which was even earlier than planned.

The sports field will not only be equipped with a rainproof roof and 90 photovoltaic panels, but will also be used to generate clean electricity for lighting and restaurants in the area. Excess energy is fed into the power grid, making a practical contribution to sustainable urban design. A very recent development in urban planning that is also practiced in many models in other cities such as Freiburg and Copenhagen. [Donaustadt Echo](https://www.donaustadtecho.at/ Successful-sommer-season-am-pier-22-Fertigstellung-des-total-areals-auf-der-zielgeraden/) also highlights that the first section of Pier 22 was completed in summer 2022 and the second section, which offers a fitness landscape, was completed in time for the beginning of summer 2025.

Diverse leisure options

What can visitors expect in the new sports area? Cafés open all year round - including the “Café Pier 22”, which offers healthy snacks, and the “Outdoor Café”, which serves South American and Austrian specialties. These restaurants are already a popular meeting place and score points with spacious terraces that offer a wonderful view of the water. In addition, temporary food trucks are planned to further enrich the culinary offering.

Construction on the new island restaurant, which will serve Mediterranean cuisine, is also in full swing and is scheduled to open in summer 2026. A smart step to enrich the leisure activities, as district leader Ernst Nevrivy emphasizes, highlighting the advantage for the people of Donaustadt. Flood protection requirements are taken into account when designing the banks of the New Danube to ensure safety for all visitors.

Sustainability and urban development

The sustainable design of the city is a central concern of the Vienna city administration. The use of renewable energies, as indicated by the solar systems in the sports field and the future island restaurant, aims to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and protect the environment. Experts emphasize that long-term savings in energy costs for companies can also be achieved through proper urban planning. [Jovrita](https://jovrita.com/nach Sustainable city planning and the integration of renewable energies/) shows that more and more cities, similar to Vienna, are relying on these forward-looking concepts.

Another goal is to create consumption-free zones and to offer a free-to-use infrastructure that benefits the population. The ambitious planning in Vienna to continually expand and improve the site serves as a model for other cities. When the third construction phase is completed in spring 2026, open water access, new sports areas and a barrier-free bathing platform with showers as well as a shallow water zone will expand the offering.

This breath of fresh air at Pier 22 not only brings with it new opportunities for sport and recreation, but also shows that Vienna is on the right path to creating a livable and environmentally friendly city.