Donauufer Landstrasse: Visions of greenery and freedom without commerce!

Donauufer Landstrasse: Visions of greenery and freedom without commerce!

The Danube bank on Landstrasse remains an exciting topic that is currently being discussed a lot. The vision behind the new design concept bears the motto: “DoKa will be wow”. The focus is on greening, cooling and the creation of consumption-free zones on the inner-city bank of the Danube. The focus is particularly on the work in the 1st and 2nd districts of Vienna, but the bank of Landstrasse remains unmentioned in the concept. MA45, the department for Vienna's waters, calls on citizens to be patient regarding the planned changes. The main focus is also on tailor-made projects for the right bank promenade.

District leader Erich Hohenberger from the SPÖ attaches great importance to preserving the natural condition of the bank. Despite the enthusiasm about the possible changes, there are currently no plans for a citizen survey or the permanent location of restaurant ships. His deputy Siegrid Widhalm from the Greens, however, sees a lot of potential for social and cultural uses along the bank.

Diverse visions and demands

There are already some initiatives aimed at improving the design of the Danube bank. In 2021, an application was submitted for a memorial site against witch hunts and violence against women. This diversity of ideas is also reflected in the demands of local political parties. The FPÖ-Landstraße focuses on maintaining the paths and protecting the trees from beaver bites. In contrast, Neos district party leader Peter Perdau would like to create space for sporting activities and water taxis. He also calls for an improvement in lighting and sightlines in order to increase residents' sense of security.

The Left/KPÖ faction has also expressed its wishes and is calling for more lighting and public toilet facilities. A critical voice comes from citizens who are upset about the commercial use of Hermannpark by Hermanns Strandbar, while a request to the ÖVP-Landstraße remained unanswered.

A look beyond the borders

Viewed in a larger context, similar developments can also be seen in other cities such as Ingolstadt. There, the banks of the Danube are an essential habitat that is of great importance for flora and fauna as well as for the citizens. Planned renovations in the Klenzepark area are intended to result in an ecological improvement of the bank, and here too, citizen participation is an important part of the planning. The city makes information available on its internet portal and residents can actively participate in the changes.

In Vienna it remains to be seen what specific measures will be taken in the next few months. The ideas are diverse and demonstrate a great interest in sustainable and livable bank design. But a lot of patience is still required for the final implementation.

For further information on the City of Vienna's planning projects, visit My District and [Bayern In the middle](https://www.bayernmittendrin.de/2024/02/06/buerger Beteiligung-zur-gestalt-des-donauufers/).