Daycare playgrounds in Freiham: New application for more freedom of use!

Daycare playgrounds in Freiham: New application for more freedom of use!

There is a new and exciting project in Munich that could benefit many children. The factions of the CSU/Free Voters, SPD and the Greens/Rosa List/Volt are committed to opening daycare playgrounds in residential complexes. The background: In many residential complexes, the daycare centers are surrounded by fences, which means that the open spaces remain inaccessible to the little neighbors outside of operating hours. For this reason, an application was submitted to the city administration on July 16, 2025, which is intended to allow more flexibility in the use of the playground in a new residential complex in Freiham. This means that children can play outdoors even on afternoons and weekends, right on their own doorstep.

The new residential complex in Freiham includes 175 apartments and is in the first phase of construction on the WA19 construction site. The idea of ​​reciprocally using the playgrounds was already supported in the building competition by an expert jury and city planning. However, the current plan calls for fencing the entire daycare open area, which would cover around half of the inner courtyard. This would mean that the space for all children in the residential complex would be severely limited.

Use for more scope

Lena Odell, SPD city councilor, expressed concern about the current situation: “It is certainly a shame when daycare playgrounds are empty on weekends and during the holidays.” Sebastian Weisenburger, city councilor for the Green Party, goes one step further and calls for holistic, more collaborative planning of play areas in Munich. He emphasizes how important it is for children to be able to use the new playgrounds, as they are essential not only for exercise but also for social contacts.

A model project that was initiated in July 2024 is running parallel to this project. The aim is to test the shared use of playgrounds for daycare centers and local families. After a year, an evaluation will be made to determine how best to use, care and maintain the playgrounds. Playgrounds are not only important for children's motor and social development, they also contribute to an activating neighborhood.

The political will is there

The political support for this initiative is clear. Among other things, because the Bavarian building regulations stipulate that residential buildings with more than three apartments must have a children's playground on the property or in the immediate vicinity. This concept could help to make optimal use of the space in Munich in the future. The city councilors Sebastian Weisenburger, Sofie Langmeier, Anja Berger, Paul Bickelbacher and Florian Schönemann are behind this project and are committed to ensuring that the new planning in Freiham enables all children of all ages to live together.

Overall, it shows that the city of Munich is well on its way to promoting inclusive and child-friendly urban design. The upcoming decision on the flexible use of the daycare playgrounds in Freiham could be groundbreaking for future projects. “We need a good hand to give all children access to play spaces,” says Weisenburger.