“New Playground and Meeting Place Underway at Brühlacker School in Oberbüren”

The voters approved a loan of CHF 815,000 for the construction of the square, which is named after the well-known local gymnast Pablo Brägger. 348 voters in the primary school community Oberbüren-Sonnental said yes, 231 put a no in the ballot box, and this with a turnout of 28.3 percent. No opposition arose from the rather rich credit. Information events were poorly attended.

Construction work has recently started. The opening of the square is planned for autumn. The smaller of two sequoias on the site – they are not under protection – was felled during the construction work. In the opinion of the primary school board, it no longer fits in the space, is too big, and its roots interfered with further renovations. The larger tree, on the other hand, remains. “This is still used by the children as a popular climbing tree,” says Martin Frischknecht, President of the Primary School Board. The wood from the felled tree is reused. “We also made sure that the existing trees – including a linden tree – were preserved,” adds Frischknecht.

Renewal repeatedly postponed

The Brühlacker school building and large parts of the surrounding area are 57 years old. Today’s playground is over 15 years old. Various attempts to redesign the area were mostly postponed for financial reasons.

The new project that has now been approved includes the replacement of the existing playground equipment. “A small one is preserved, the rest has reached the end of its lifespan,” says Frischknecht. But the entire area surrounding the west wing will also be redesigned. “The larger part of the costs is due to environmental work,” emphasizes the President of the School Council. An actual playground and meeting place is to be created, inviting people to play, observe, run around, rest and meet. The aim is that everyone, from small children to adults, should feel comfortable on the pitch.

Play opportunities close to nature

The overgrown hills around the location of the existing playground will be preserved and upgraded. A playground is to be created where nature can be discovered, balanced on tree trunks, crawled through tunnels or explored the vegetation on the hill. There will be a large swing on the site. The long table-bench combination in the center of the square is intended to create space for encounters. An offer of drinking water in the form of a fountain or a water point should enrich the place of residence.

Parking lot will be cancelled

The biggest change in terms of traffic and parking is the elimination of the school building car park on Billwilerstrasse. As an alternative, the large parking lot at the Oberstufenzentrum Thurzelg will be available for teachers and employees of the school as well as for visitors and non-school users (e.g. clubs).

The provisional connecting path between Brühlacker and the upper school center for the renovation of the west wing is being weatherproofed and illuminated by the political community. “This route is popular and well used,” says Frischknecht. The entire area west of the gym will be car-free and will not be available for events in the Brühlackersaal. On the adjoining gravel parking lot of the political community, individual parking spaces are set aside for the primary school during the day.