Skate railway hope: Young people are calling for new space in Hartha!

Skate railway hope: Young people are calling for new space in Hartha!

Hartha. In the city of Hartha, the skate railway on Sonnenstrasse has been out of operation since 2021 has repeatedly caused damage. "The city spent a lot of money on repairs, but the train was destroyed again, which led to closure," explained Ronald Fischer, head of the building office.

The pronounced wish of the young people for a new skate space remains. This became clear at a meeting of the Working Group (AG) for youth participation, which was initiated by the head of the chief Antje Winkler. The city administration listened to the previous wishes of the children and young people who were expressed as part of the "Wunsch trees" campaign.

Take wishes of young people seriously

Winkler made it clear: "It is not only for granted, but also legally stipulated in the municipal code that the wishes of the younger generations must be taken into account." Anja Weiblich emphasizes from flexible youth management that they are ready to realize up to three projects together with young people.

What is specifically planned for the skate railway remains unclear. Fischer confirmed that the topic will be dealt with in future committee meetings. Mayor Ronald Kunze and the Free Voters already have ideas for an alternative skate railway on the former station area, where there are enough space and initial designs.

In order for this project to be realized, the city council must first take a fundamental decision, followed by the application for funding.

Support from the flexible youth management

The high participation in the first meeting of the youth participation AG shows how important many the future child and youth work in Hartha is. In addition to children and adolescents, representatives of the city, clubs and other institutions, were also present to exchange ideas and suggestions together.

Weidlich and her colleague Julia Oethe lead this initiative and would like to expand the offers for young people between 12 and 27 years and support their interests. "We want to offer a platform to develop the opportunities for leisure activities and actively participate in the young people," says Weidlich.

A central concern of the young people is the creation of a room that can be used independently of opening hours and supervisors. Ideas such as a chill room, free youth discos, a BMX route or a place for football outside of regular sports fields were expressed. In addition to the skate railway, there is a wide range of wishes that need to be met.

At this first session, a lively exchange about the places of leisure activities could be observed. Many existing offers, such as the observatory, the youth fire brigade and the “Sunshine” children's and youth center, were highlighted.

The next meeting of the youth participation AG is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30th, in the children's and youth center to decide which projects should be tackled with the support of the flexible youth management and the city of Hartha. This opportunity not only offers young people the opportunity to raise their voice, but also to take responsibility for their leisure activities.

The efforts to hear and actively implement the interests of Hartha's youth could ultimately influence the quality of life and the commitment in the community. In details on this topic can be found in the report www.saechsische.de .