Germany's administration plans to shut down the nearby industrial facility in the coming days.
Celebrating 25 Years of the Diepenpark Playground Initiative
On Sunday, June 1st, the Diepenpark community gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Diepenpark Playground Initiative. The event was filled with fun activities, honours, and a glimpse into the playground's rich history.
The day began with the official celebration, where Petra Sobotka, the founder of the initiative, and Marina Müller were honoured by the city with flowers and certificates for their 25 years of dedicated service as playground patrons. Sobotka, who established the initiative 25 years ago, was also presented with a special recognition.
The festival was a family-friendly affair, with attractions such as face painting, a magician, soap bubbles, games, and free pony rides. The climbing frame, a popular fixture at the playground, was a hit among the children. For the adults, there were delicious cakes, coffee, and drinks.
A highlight of the day was the unveiling of the life-size mascot of the "Conrad," an invention by Martin Sobotka. The Conrad represents containers and wheels and is a symbol of the initiative's hard work and commitment.
The neighbouring Rudolf Steiner School was honoured with a golden Conrad for its eagerness to participate in actions. Wolfgang Harisch, who has been accompanying the playground with his barrel organ for 15 years, was also honoured with a golden Conrad.
The Diepenpark Playground Initiative is a community-driven project that has been working tirelessly for 25 years to improve and maintain the playground facilities in the Diepenpark neighbourhood. Over the years, the initiative has seen phases of design, funding, construction, and ongoing maintenance, with impacts including increased local childhood activity, social cohesion, and environmental awareness.
The annual "Dreck weg Tag" (Clean Up Day) is an important event for the Diepenpark Playground Initiative, ensuring that the playground remains clean and safe for children to play. The acquisition of a games container was a significant step for the initiative, providing children with various slide vehicles, play equipment, brooms, and buckets.
The Diepenpark riding stable offered free pony rides, which attracted a long line. Angelika Penack-Bielor, a Gerresheimer resident, was also honoured with a golden "Conrad" on Sunday. Bielor has been closely connected to the Diepenpark Playground Initiative and has provided legal advice when needed.
Police Officer Kathrin Terres showed off the equipment in the patrol car during the festival. Fingerprinting with glitter paint was available only on Sunday, adding an extra touch of fun to the celebration.
The Diepenpark Playground Initiative is maintained by 173 volunteers who regularly clean up the playground to ensure children can play safely and carefree. Pro Düsseldorf has awarded the Diepenpark Playground Initiative the golden broom for its efforts.
As the day came to a close, the community reflected on the past 25 years of the Diepenpark Playground Initiative and looked forward to the future, with plans to continue improving and maintaining the playground for the benefit of the children and the community.
The Diepenpark Playground Initiative, with its focus on home-and-garden aspirations, extended its influence to the community event, demonstrating a lifestyle commitment to nurturing and maintaining the Diepenpark playground for the past 25 years. The highlight of the day, the unveiling of the life-size mascot,The Conrad, symbolized the organization's home-and-garden spirit, representing containers and wheels, embodying the hard work and dedication that keeps the playground working smoothly.
