Today, Mayor Thomas Kütter officially opened the new footpaths in the Schloßteich parklands at the Ernst Thälmann Memorial, on Promenadenstraße near Arndtplatz.
Paths totalling around 500 metres in length have been refurbished in the historic Schloßteich park grounds. Construction work on the northern section along Schloßteichstraße and Promenadenstraße has been underway since the beginning of March. The planning and implementation of this sensitive construction project were closely coordinated with the heritage protection authority in order to meet the design and historical requirements of the park. To this end, a comprehensive set of objectives in accordance with heritage protection legislation was drawn up in advance.
In the longer of the two sections, the eastern main path – which runs parallel to Promenadenstraße – was completely renewed over a length of approximately 440 metres. The dark asphalt surface, which was in need of renovation, was replaced with a light-coloured, water-bound path surface. This construction method blends aesthetically into the historic setting, promotes the natural infiltration of rainwater and is considerably more pleasant to walk on for both people and animals. The light-coloured surface also provides an attractive contrast to the anthracite-coloured basalt stone edging and improves orientation for people with visual impairments.
In addition to the main path, the renovation works also extended to the adjacent side paths. A particular design focus was placed on the restoration, in keeping with heritage standards, of the area around the Ernst Thälmann monument near Arndtplatz. Here, the Theuma slate slabs surrounding the monument were realigned and the brittle asphalt surface was also replaced with a water-bound path surface. This enhances the entire area both visually and functionally.
The surface of the path over the bridge structure at the weir – the outlet of the Schloßteich – was also refurbished. The old, brittle asphalt surface course was replaced with a new one. On top of this, a special synthetic resin-based coating containing a mixture of aggregate was applied, which matches the colour of the water-bound surface. The bridge railing is still to be repainted.
One of the aims of the path refurbishment was to prevent the formation of unwanted footpaths within the historic grounds. To this end, new planting areas were established along Promenadenstraße to guide visitor traffic. The selection of plants is based on those historically used in the Schloßteich grounds.
The shorter section of the renovation work was carried out in the northern area of the Schloßteich, on Schloßteichstraße. There, a naturally formed footpath stretching for approximately 50 metres was completely removed, and the dead columnar oak was replaced by a newly planted columnar oak. This is in line with the objectives of heritage conservation legislation. To prevent the unwanted re-formation of a footpath, additional shrubs were also planted here.
The total cost of the work amounts to around 450,000 euros. The project was carried out with urban development funding from the federal government, the Free State of Saxony and the City of Chemnitz. Funding of around 300,000 euros is available for the path renovation from the ‘Lebendige Zentren’ programme; the City of Chemnitz’s own contribution amounts to just under 150,000 euros.
The Chemnitz-based company JACOB + BILZ was responsible for the planning and on-site construction supervision. The landscaping was carried out by Steinbach & Richter GbR of Lichtenau, whilst specialist tree protection supervision during construction was provided by Ibb GmbH of Chemnitz. The colour-coordinated surface on the bridge structure was installed by POSSEHL Spezialbau GmbH Co KG of Pöhl.
Outlook
Planning is already underway for a second construction phase, which will connect to the newly refurbished section in the northern part and resolve the issue of the well-trodden footpaths up to the traffic lights at Schloßteichstraße/Promenadenstraße. This second construction phase is scheduled for completion in 2027.
The history of the Schloßteich grounds
The Schloßteichpark in Chemnitz is a significant, historic garden monument that combines architectural features with a rich variety of wildlife. The centrepiece of the complex is the Schloßteich, which covers a water area of around 8.5 hectares and is mainly fed by the Pleißenbach stream. Originally, the body of water below the Schloßberg served as a fish pond for the monastery located there. From 1860 onwards, its use changed fundamentally when the area was redesigned as a public park according to the plans of City Councillor Carl August Robert Zipper.
The park underwent a major expansion in the years after 1930 under the direction of City Planning Officer Fred Otto. He had the grounds extended westwards, adopting the more formal French garden style. To this day, this style is characterised by a strictly symmetrical network of paths and a striking, rectangular fountain. A little later (in 1936), the famous sculpture group ‘Four Times of Day’ by the sculptor Johannes Schilling, also known as the ‘Schilling Figures’, was erected there.
The entire park is criss-crossed by paths, some of which still retain their original historic flowerbed borders. In terms of landscape, the area captivates with its varied shoreline sections, views towards the Schloßberg with the castle church, and a valuable, old tree population, which also includes several species of trees that are rare in this region.
The park’s main attraction is the island, which can be reached via two bridges and a continuous main path. The island is home to several listed structures. These include the Müller-Zipper Fountain, which was donated in 1912 and commemorates Mayor Johann Friedrich Müller and Councillor Carl August Robert Zipper. Also on the island is the bandstand with its circular plaza dating from the 1950s; its round, flat roof is supported by five slender steel columns and is bordered at the rear by an ornate wall featuring sgraffito decorations. A colonnade completes the architectural ensemble. A popular attraction on the island is the playground, which was redesigned in 2023.