Jena receives funding for the redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz from the federal program "Adaptation of urban spaces to climate change"

The city of Jena is receiving federal funding for the climate-adapted redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz in the city center from the federal program "Adaptation of urban spaces to climate change". The funding amounts to 6.375 million euros.

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche was delighted with the good news from Berlin. "Ernst-Abbe-Platz is a central square in our city and an important public transport hub. Many people meet here in the center of Jena every day: students, people who are out shopping in the city center and passengers of Jena's public transport system. It is high time that we were able to create a modern and, above all, climate-friendly space here. With the funding from the federal government, we are significantly increasing the quality of stay here."

Nitzsche thanked the Parliamentary Managing Director of the FDP parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Dresden MP Torsten Herbst, who campaigned for this Jena project in the budget committee that passed the resolution, as well as Jena MP Holger Becker (SPD), who also promoted the project through his parliamentary group.

Mayor and Head of Urban Development Christian Gerlitz explained that the construction project, the implementation of which had previously failed due to the financial possibilities of the city and university, could now finally be continued. "For years, we have had plans for a climate-adapted redesign of Ernst-Abbe-Platz, one of the hottest and busiest places in the city, but these have so far failed due to the lack of funding for the large area occupied by the university. With the federal funding, we can now redesign it and create another climate oasis in Jena's urban space. This will increase the quality and quantity of green and open spaces in the city."

Just last week, the Jena City Council unanimously approved the modernization of Ernst-Abbe-Platz (22/1790-BV). The motion was initiated by the SPD parliamentary group and supported by the Alliance Greens, the Left Party and the CDU. This was also an important signal to the federal government, emphasized Nitzsche.

Gerlitz also said that the city was already in discussions with the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, which owned the largest part of the square, regarding the design of the square.