For Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende, this is an opportunity to take stock: “I have overseen both areas of work with joy and passion, and it pains me to hand over responsibility for them. But in both sports and urban planning, I have always sought bipartisan support, and I am confident that Daniela Georgi and Christiane Hinninger will also carry out these duties in the city’s best interests. My heartfelt thanks go to the highly motivated staff of the Sports and Urban Planning Departments for their dedication, experience, creativity, and excellent collegial spirit.” 

After seven years as head of the Sports Department, Mayor Mende looks back on numerous investments, support initiatives, and athletic successes in Wiesbaden. “For me, a good sports infrastructure is the best way to promote sports. With the support of the City Council, we have achieved a great deal in recent years.” 

A key focus was on the expansion and modernization of sports halls. The large sports hall in Weidenborn—including a running track for track and field—was newly built, as were the gyms at the Hermann-Ehlers and Gerhart-Hauptmann schools. The sports hall in Schelmengraben underwent a complete renovation. Further renovations in Biebrich and at the Hans-Jürgen-Portmann Hall in Breckenheim are currently in full swing. 

To date, more than 36 million euros have actually been spent on these projects. This figure does not include the total costs of the two leasing models for the new facilities, which amount to an additional 40 million euros or so. 

More than six million euros have been allocated in recent years for the renovation and refurbishment of sports fields. In September, another project is scheduled for completion: the conversion of the second-to-last red-gravel field into an artificial turf field in Rambach. The city invested an additional approximately four million euros in the construction of two functional buildings in Bierstadt and on Waldstraße. 

In addition, work has begun on the modernization of the Jürgen-Grabowski Sports Field. Funding from the so-called “Sports Billion” program has been approved for the renovation of the running tracks and synthetic surfaces at the Helmut-Schön Sports Park. At the same time, planning funds for the construction of a multipurpose facility in the sports park were allocated in the city budget. 

Support for Wiesbaden’s sports clubs takes many forms—ranging from moral support through event attendance, patronage, and honors to extensive financial assistance. In recent years, the state capital has supported sports clubs with more than ten million euros in grants. Major sporting events were also funded, such as the Wiesbaden Tennis Open, the Bundesliga archery finals, the Liliencup, the Pentecost Tournament, and the City Biathlon. In addition, the city provided approximately six million euros for the sports clubs’ investment projects. 

“But that is by no means the whole picture. Showing personal support for the clubs by attending many events and hosting the city’s annual athlete awards ceremony were matters close to my heart—and I will continue to prioritize them,” said Mende. 

Policies for future generations are also at the heart of urban planning. Mayor Mende took on this responsibility following the far-too-early death of the then-department head Hans Martin Kessler and the departure of honorary city council member Marcus Gassner. “It was important to me to carry on the office in the spirit of Hans Martin Kessler. In recent years, numerous projects and initiatives have been launched that will shape the city’s development in the long term,” said Mende. 

The results of the past few years are impressive. A total of 13 zoning resolutions and 12 ordinance resolutions were passed. “If—as hoped—the City Council approves the ‘South of Dankwardweg’ zoning plan on Thursday, building rights will be established for approximately 750 new apartments. That has always been my core priority as head of urban planning: creating housing and securing new areas for commercial development,” said Mende. Against this backdrop, the preliminary draft of the land-use plan (FNP) was also developed following an intensive and constructive participatory process involving the local advisory councils. The city’s overall statement on the regional plan was also shaped by these guidelines. “This was always accompanied by a thorough examination of all environmental impacts and climate aspects—because only through careful consideration of all factors can urban planning succeed in addressing all future challenges.” 

The so-called “experimental spaces” are also exemplary of this fundamental approach—namely, aligning urban development with the criteria of “greener, fairer, more productive, and oriented toward the common good,” in accordance with the New Leipzig Charter. New planning processes have also been launched—ones that specifically focus on the common good—such as the “Neue Mitte Breckenheim” and the “Hofgut Klarenthal” projects. “It was a political struggle to allocate selected municipal properties according to the best possible concept and established quality criteria. I am glad that this decision now enjoys broad political support.” 

With the adoption of the Rhine-Main Waterfront Concept and the implementation of the first measures, the foundation has been laid for further enhancing the appeal of Wiesbaden’s waterfront areas. 

Special attention was also given to the continued implementation of the Ostfeld urban development project (SEM). This is the city’s largest development project, through which the new central administrative headquarters for the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA “All in One” Campus) will be realized in Wiesbaden. The SEM Ostfeld project will also create a new urban district in the southern part of the development area, where affordable housing for approximately 10,000 people can be built. “I will continue to feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute vigorously to the success of the Ostfeld project.” 

“The past few years have been marked by intensive work, many discussions, and challenging decisions. I am grateful for the collaboration with the many stakeholders who have supported and helped shape these processes. Even though my responsibilities are now changing, I remain committed to these issues and to the colleagues who are dedicated to our city,” said Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende. “Much has been set in motion, and some decisions have already been made—it is now crucial that these projects be consistently carried forward. I am confident that Daniela Georgi and Christiane Hinninger will continue this strong collaboration, and I wish them every success in doing so.”