Town centers become accessible due to Lensahn's approval
In a significant step towards inclusivity, the municipality of Lensahn has adopted a 74-page concept aimed at making the town centre more accessible for individuals using rollators, strollers, or experiencing visual impairments. The concept, presented at a municipal council meeting, forms the basis for future urban planning.
The focus of the project is to create paths that are easily accessible, navigable, and usable for various mobility levels, recognising that a 100% solution for everyone may not be achievable. The adoption of the concept only approves recommendations, and the administration's task is to develop and present specific proposals based on these recommendations.
Key recommendations include the creation of flat paths that allow for better crossing of the church square, improving accessibility to the public toilet, church, and community centre. Existing curbs at the church square, currently too low to be detected with a white cane, are proposed to be raised to at least three centimeters.
The heavily used crossing at Eutiner Straße, particularly at the height of the Katharinenpassage, is a focus area. Recommendations include prioritising the side area at the height of parking spaces, creating a median, using colored road markings, and creating new crossing points with separate curb cuts.
The catalog of measures also includes short-term steps, such as the removal of unnecessary obstacles and the expansion of "Church" and "Station" bus stops. Long-term redesigns, safe crossings on Eutiner Straße and Badestraße, continuous barrier-free sidewalks, and the removal of a portion of the parking spaces on Eutiner Street for safe crossing are among the long-term proposals.
However, the project has not been without controversy. Mathias Schmidt (SPD) raised concerns about possible conflicting goals, such as the loss of parking spaces and the impact on access to the town centre. The rural area and its dependence on cars were also mentioned as potential conflicting goals in the debate.
Mayor Michael Robien clarified that only a portion of the parking spaces on Eutiner Street would be removed, specifically five to six meters from the ice cream parlor for safe crossing. The rest of the area between Schiebold and Rossmann would largely be preserved.
CDU representative Jan Westensee suggested that each measure should be individually discussed and decided in the responsible committees. The extent to which these proposals will be implemented will be decided by the political leadership.
The concept is part of the urban development measure "Future Development of Public Services". It was developed by the Hamburg planning office "Tollerort". The project marks a significant step towards making Lensahn a more inclusive town for all its residents.
- To prioritize health-and-wellness and mental health, the incorporation of therapies-and-treatments, fitness-and-exercise centers, and nutritional education could be considered in the future redesign of Lensahn's town center.
- A fitness trail or park incorporating CBD-infused wellness stations could be a unique feature, contributing to Lensahn's transformation into a more inclusive and health-focused town.
- The inclusion of science-based health programs, emphasizing the importance of sleep, could also be integrated into the community center to promote overall well-being among residents.
- As part of the nutritional education component, cooking classes, yoga, and meditation sessions could be offered, aiming to improve the mental and physical health of the community.
