Meeting place for all generations in the center of Biberist

In the last budget, the amount for a playground and meeting place in the center of Biberist was tipped. Now an amount of 380,000 francs will be included in the 2022 budget to bring Gustav Eisenmann-Platz out of its slumber.

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A movement area for children with play equipment, logs to climb around, balance or hills to slide down, a bird’s nest swing, a sand-water area and, as a centerpiece: an interactive water game. In addition, a small buvette with seating, a barbecue area and a calisthenics machine (fitness). This is how experts imagine Gustav Eisenmann-Platz in the future.

Space for all generations

Only the large, shady trees would remain from today’s place. However, because of the cantonal road and the Emme, the square would have to be fenced off. Nevertheless, the Children and Youth Commission (Kijuko) considers the place to be ideal for creating a meeting place for all generations in Biberist.

After all, the schools and the largest old people’s center in the village would also be close by. The space is also important because Biberist is currently growing rapidly and is becoming more and more densely built towards the inside. This is why play and meeting spaces are all the more necessary.

Investment in quality of life

Mayor Stefan Hug-Portmann personally initiated the work of the Kijuko for the meeting place. He would have liked to include the loan for the new meeting place in the budget last December, but failed there because of a majority in the local council.

“I think we have a unique opportunity with this project to invest in Biberist’s quality of life”,

he said in the local council meeting on Monday evening.

In fact, the project was supported by all political groups except the SVP. The SVP clearly rejects both the project and the credit for it. Markus Dick submitted the counter-motion to advertise a competition with three architectural offices and to have a meeting place designed on a modest scale.

In principle, the CVP supported the meeting place in the center, but found the project at hand to be very expensive and also a bit overloaded with the many different elements that should be placed next to each other.

Only for setting up the Maitannli

Beat Affolter made it short for the SP: “Gustav Eisenmann-Platz is ideally located and is only used today to set up the Maitannli. We support the present project. “

“I think it’s a shame that we’re looking for problems again in the local council instead of supporting a good project,” said Sabrina Weisskopf (FDP). Gustav Eisenmann-Platz is the right place, Biberist urgently needs such a meeting place. “The costs are also an issue for us,” Weisskopf continued.

“But it is primarily about the fundamental question: Do we want the meeting place or do we not want it.”

380,000 francs are calculated in a rough cost estimate for the project. This does not include the renovation of the toilet facility, which is available on the site but can no longer be used. This can be triggered independently of the playground, but would cost an additional 75,000 francs.

Bring in sponsorship and other contributions

Eric Send, as President of Kijuko, pointed out that parents and children should be included when it comes to easy-to-do work around the square. In addition, it is planned to approach foundations, sponsors, benefactors and also the community for contributions. This could cover up to a fifth of the costs.

The municipal council had to vote on various motions and counter motions. Ultimately, a narrow majority of the SP and FDP prevailed against the CVP (which wanted to reduce the project to CHF 350,000) and SVP. At the same time, the experts from the SpielRaum specialist unit, who worked out the preliminary project, the Kijuko and the building and works commission (BWK), which will oversee the construction project, were told that the project would be detoxified and certain savings would be desirable.

Again and again topic: safety on the way to school

Biberist decided years ago that all children from the community should go to school in the center. This means that some children from the more distant neighborhoods have to walk around 2.5 kilometers to school, some of which they cover four times a day. In addition, lower school children often have to cross busy main streets or narrow neighborhood streets.

Now the neuralgic weak points and danger zones on the way to school are to be identified with a study and shown on a map. This would provide a basic tool for tackling the issue of school route safety and implementing measures.

Does a study bring anything?

“We actually know exactly where the hotspots are on the way to school,” said Sabrina Weisskopf. “Wouldn’t we better use the money to implement concrete measures than to commission a study,” she asked. “We also doubt that a study will bring anything new,” said Priska Gnägi (CVP).

“Sometimes it’s good to have an outside view,” said Uriel Kramer (President BWK). In addition, the study does not cost much with the 16,000 francs requested. “If it brings us new knowledge, it’s worth it anyway.” In addition, the study provides basic principles that can also be used in negotiations with the canton. Because a large part of the measures affect canton roads.

From 2022: New item in the budget

Kramer also stated that the BWK would add a new item to the budget. «We are opening a new account called School Road Safety. So far we have never had the money to implement measures. We want to change that. “

Here, too, the municipal council had to vote on various proposals and variants. Ultimately, the original motion prevailed again, albeit with a casting vote from Mayor Stefan Hug-Portmann.