Jena applies for funding for sports field renovation

The Winzerla sports ground and the artificial turf pitch 5a in Oberaue are to be renovated. The city of Jena has applied to the federal program "Renovation of municipal sports facilities" together with the municipal real estate company Kommunale Immobilien Jena (KIJ). The corresponding project outlines were submitted on time in January, and the city council approved this step at its most recent meeting.

"Participating in the funding program is a further step towards sustainably renovating these two municipal sports grounds and making them fit for the future. We are thus making further targeted investments in maintaining our sports infrastructure and creating better conditions for clubs, schools and all sports enthusiasts in our city," explains Beate Wachenbrunner, Plant Manager at KIJ. "And I am delighted that the city council has unanimously approved this."

In focus: important places for social cohesion

The German Bundestag had allocated 333 million euros in the 2025 budget for the federal program "Renovation of municipal sports facilities". This is intended to support cities and municipalities in renovating important places for social cohesion. Funding of 1.17 million euros was requested for the renovation of the Winzerla sports ground, which is estimated to cost 2.6 million euros. For the artificial turf pitch 5a in Oberaue, with total costs of 670,000 euros, the funding applied for is around 300,000 euros. Both sports fields are mainly used by sports clubs and recreational athletes. The pitch in Winzerla (sprint and long jump facility) is also used by the Friedrich-Schiller elementary school. The renovation of the pitch is also intended to create a calisthenics facility (fitness training) for public use.

The federal program is primarily intended to support sports facilities of particular regional and supra-regional importance that play an important role in social cohesion and social integration in the community. However, facilities that are primarily used for elite or professional sport or are operated commercially are not eligible for funding.

"Sport is an essential factor for our social cohesion and activates and mobilizes many people in our city. I am therefore pleased that we want to use the federal funds to expand and renovate the already excellent sports facilities in our city. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the colleagues involved for the rapid processing of the applications submitted at short notice," emphasizes Johannes Schleußner, Head of the Department of Education, Youth, Culture and Sport of the City of Jena. It is therefore an important task to further develop the sports landscape in Jena in a targeted manner and to keep the needs of the clubs, recreational sports and urban society equally in mind.
Outlook: What the next steps will look like

The Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction is expected to select projects by the end of March / beginning of April and will then hold coordination meetings. Following this - probably by the end of May - the official application will then be submitted. If a decision is made in favor of a Jena project, a funding decision could be expected in September.

If the renovation of the sports field in Winzerla or court 5a in Oberaue is not considered for the federal program, the KIJ and the city of Jena will look for another funding program, such as the state's sports facility construction funding, in order to implement this cost-intensive measure.

About the funding program:

The grants are awarded by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction. The requirements for funding are high (for example, a high level of energy efficiency must be achieved when renovating buildings). The purpose is also tied to a period of 20 years. The projects submitted must be completed by the end of 2031 at the latest.