Overview

• City administration plans to phase out the term 'Spielplatz' from autumn 2025 by swapping 700 signs for the broader 'Spiel- und Aktionsfläche' label
• Children, youths and families helped design new abstract graphics that showcase motion and avoid identifiable attributes
• The informational signs retain the word 'Spielen' to preserve noise exemptions under the Federal Emissions Control Act and carry no planning or legal weight
• After widespread pushback, Mayor Reker argued that 'Spielplatz' remains clear and referred further action to the council’s authority
• Critics including opposition leader Jochen Ott say attention should focus on repairing and modernizing play equipment rather than changing sign labels