Boltenhagen is planning a controversial family entertainment center – citizens agree!

Boltenhagen is planning a controversial family entertainment center – citizens agree!

In Boltenhagen, Northwest Mecklenburg district, the majority of citizens voted in favor of a controversial development plan in a recent survey. As NDR reports, around 82 percent of participants voted for the project, which envisages the construction of a so-called “Family Entertainment Center”. The facility is to be built on a municipal site of six hectares at the entrance to the town and will be managed by the operators of the Camp David Adventure Park. The idea of ​​creating such a center was developed with the aim of offering new leisure activities for families, school classes and clubs.

The development plan also envisages the creation of around 200 new apartments, 25 terraced houses and 50 single-family homes. Mayor Raphael Wardecki, who supports the project, emphasizes that the income from the sale of the area should be used to finance housing construction. The planned average rents for the new apartments should be 6.40 euros per square meter.

A strong concept for leisure and living space

The planned leisure facility also includes a hall up to 17 meters high with an indoor playground, climbing landscapes, trampolines and creative areas. Multifunctional rooms for events, workshops and club activities are also planned. With planned completion by 2028, the FEC will offer play and meeting spaces all year round, which, according to Wardecki, should strengthen Boltenhagen's tourist profile.

Around 200 visitors took part in a residents' meeting in April and received the FEC idea positively. Nevertheless, critics, including from the CDU and SPD, express concerns about the transparency of the decision-making process. These parties initiated the citizen survey and accuse the mayor of not providing sufficient information about the background and the legal adjustments.

The residents' perspective and the challenges of participation

Citizen participation has established itself as a central theme in urban planning, as is the case in Vienna, where the early involvement of citizens in municipal projects is encouraged. It emphasizes that local knowledge and the needs of residents are crucial for planning. Something similar could be said for Boltenhagen, even if there are still questions about its feasibility.

The FEC, which will also include dining options such as Restaurant 63, could provide an additional incentive for young families to settle in Boltenhagen. In the long term, this could not only increase the quality of life of the residents, but also strengthen the economic basis of the community. The coming months will be critical to resolve outstanding issues and advance detailed planning as the community continues to grow together toward a new future for both recreational activities and housing.