Some school playgrounds in Saxony open for recreational sports

In Saxony, more and more recreational athletes are able to use the sports facilities in school playgrounds. This is the result of a survey in Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz. In Leipzig, six schools already open their schoolyards and sports grounds in the afternoon, at weekends and during vacation periods. In Dresden, too, it is already possible to open up sports grounds, provided the conditions are right. In Chemnitz, a corresponding project will be launched at three schools at the start of the school year.

School life should be possible the following day

"I am delighted that we are now starting this great project and that schools are becoming a little more part of the neighborhoods in addition to their school purpose," said Chemnitz Mayor Ralph Burghart (CDU). However, the athletes should bear in mind that it must always be possible for the school day to resume on the following day during the week.

More space for games, sports and encounters

In Leipzig, schools are to be established as places that are enlivened beyond school hours and used by the stakeholders of the respective neighborhood under the motto: "More space for games, sports and encounters". The offer has met with broad demand, which is why an expansion is being examined. When new schools are built and school playgrounds are renovated, the possibility of opening up the school playground is already taken into account during the planning stage, a city spokesperson emphasized.

In the state capital of Dresden, the use of such areas at individual schools has already been permitted in isolated cases, according to a request. The prerequisite was that the area was structurally separated from the rest of the schoolyard or was easily accessible near the street. "The opening up of sports and exercise areas at schools is also an important topic for the future in Dresden, which we are developing in a targeted and gradual manner," emphasized Education Mayor Jan Donhauser (CDU).