Rename playgrounds? That costs Cologne at least 38,000 euros

It is one of these typical excitement reports: “In Cologne, playgrounds will soon no longer be called playgrounds”. If you read this, you shake your head immediately. And the logical questions arises: don’t we have major problems? Is that this “Woke”, of which everyone always speaks? What should that cost? And: Why do you want to change something that has not bothered anyone for decades? A playground is a playground is a playground. Or?

According to the Cologne city administration, however, the term “playground” is out of date because it reduces the target group to small children who want to play here – well – here. If a thirteen -year -old comes over and sees the previous playground sign, then both the children’s figures shown on rocking and swing as well as the word from entering the space and physically being physically feared him could be afraid. We want young people to move more again. The administration wants to get rid of the “delimiting term” and the previous playground signs.

The intention is therefore definitely a good, even understandable. And just a little “Woke”: Although you want to include young people with disabilities or from other cultures with the new name “play and action space” and with the new sign (that encourages certain people, right?), On the other hand, you want to stimulate the youth for more physical upgrading (something that is actually good, right, right?)

The problem is that hardly anyone should be seen directly, why a “play and action area” on teenagers should look more inviting than a simple playground. The name does not sound more inclusive, not cooler – at most bureaucratic. And the associated sign, quite cute with colorful children’s figures, also leaves questions unanswered. One of the figures drives skateboard – but everyone else plays as normal on a playground. Buddling in the sand, throwing a ball or hanging upside down from the climbing frame. And, all passionate skaters may not feel offended, but: that teenagers want nothing more intimately than juggling rolling boards under their feet, at least since the third season of the Simpsons or the last “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” part, anachronism, right? So this figure really symbolizes the youth?

There are plenty of comments in the local media in which the money that has been put into the development of the new signs and designation is preferred to put the space in the renovation of the areas. Absolutely valid point, even if you could have done little with the 38,000 euros provided, even if it is a lot of money in this regard. But maybe the current theater is an incentive for Mayor Henriette Reker to become more active in terms of playground expansion. In any case, the current discussion obviously does not like it.

The CDU politician has already rowed back, indicated by the city administration alone and makes the renaming and exchange of the signs dependent on a coordination in the city council. “Such a fundamental renaming is not an easy business of ongoing administration,” she criticized her colleagues. So it seems a bit cynical that on the draft of the new playground -, no, forgiveness, action area signs is emblazoned at the top “the mayor”. Nobody talks to each other?

In summary: The idea arises from a good thought, but starts in the wrong places. Perhaps it would help if you consistently remove the age restrictions, which often find themselves on older playground signs and prohibit young people from 14. And then ensures that the areas actually have an appealing effect on young people and offer them opportunities for movement. If we want to come back to the example of the skating teenagers: When for the last time you saw a half pipe on a playground? Even.

You can rename playgrounds so often: If teenagers only find swings and sand boxes there, the attraction will continue to be limited. It certainly doesn’t help, let’s be sarcastic here, that the new signs are now also prohibited in addition to smoking.