Old Airfield (Frankfurt Green Belt)
The old airfield (formerly: Maurice Rose Airfield ) in the Frankfurt Green Belt is a former American military airfield that was used until 1992 . Its area covers around 4.5 hectares and is located in the Frankfurt-Bonames and Frankfurt-Kalbach-Riedberg districts . After its resignation, it was redesigned by the project group “Green Belt” and in 2003/04 by the GTL Landscape Architects Office into a nature and leisure area, for which the GTL Landscape Architects received the German Landscape Architecture Prize in 2005 .
Time as a military airfield
In 1951/52 the US armed forces set up a helipad on the site, which had previously been used as a field airport, which was named after Maurice Rose , an officer in the US Army . The 11th Aviation Battalion was responsible for maintaining and operating the airfield. The airfield was closed on August 18, 1992.
Conversion to a nature and leisure area
After the city bought the site, work on redesigning the airfield began in winter 2002.
Observation fields
About 3 hectares of asphalt and concrete were broken up to set up observation fields, and slightly polluted areas were disposed of. The rest was processed and partly filled into wire mesh baskets ( gabions ) in order to reduce the drivable area of the former runway, and partly shredded and sorted according to size in site 7. This is to determine the slab size at which a scree field is overgrown fastest.
Runway and tree grove
The 750 m long runway remained in full length, but was narrowed in the west between site 7 and site 9 from 21 m to about 3 m. Next to the runway is a long grove of trees and a large meadow that is mowed regularly and can be used for lying down.
Helicopter parking
In the past, the helicopters were parked in eleven 100 m² spaces that were accessible via a taxiway in area 2. The concrete slabs were removed and stacked at the end of the runway as a viewing point, placed on the former parking spaces or set up vertically there.
Bridge and footbridge
During the period of military use, the area was fenced and not accessible to the public. The fence was torn down and a bridge was built over the Nidda for pedestrians and cyclists between grounds 11 and 12, which also represents an important regional connection between Frankfurt and Bad Homburg . Since 2007 the bridge has been named after the writer, poet and illustrator Robert Gernhardt , who died in 2006 and who lived in Frankfurt for many years. A bronze sculpture of the Frankfurt green armadillo, invented by Gernhardt, is installed on the railing of the bridge - a sympathetic figure of the Frankfurt green belt and part of the series of sculptures Komische Kunst in the Frankfurt green belt .
Pond and meadows
Between the runway and taxiway in area 3 there is a rudder-like water surface that is watered by backwater from the pond. Since the pond has no drain, excess water flows into the Nidda via a depression. Numerous birds and amphibians as well as muskrats can be observed there. The meadow between the runway and Nidda is still a cultivated meadow that is mowed regularly.
Former airfield buildings and expansion plans
The former tower is now used as the kitchen of the Tower Café restaurant and the small hangar as a venue for concerts and flight demonstrations. In addition, the Frankfurt Fire Brigade Museum has been located on the site since 1992 , in which helmets, caps, uniforms, breathing apparatus, certificates and historic fire engines are exhibited. In the far east of the old airfield, where the old wood storage facility is currently located, a willow labyrinth for children and adults will soon be built. In addition, the tower café and the car park are to be enlarged.
Recreational use
The old airfield has now become a learning station for children and young people. Events for families and teaching units for schools and daycare centers are offered here. From March to October there are even "landscape guides" on site to provide information about frogs, birds and plants. On the Niddaufer, children and young people are instructed in the use of boats and the observance of nature conservation laws. The Towercafé has developed into an excursion restaurant with a range of dishes.
Web links
- Old airfield Niddawiesen Bonames on 100 years of landscape architecture - an online exhibition by the bdla
- Old Bonames airfield on the landscape architecture portal today from bdla
- Old airfield at par.frankfurt.de , the former website of the city of Frankfurt am Main
- RheinMain Regional Park
- Literature on old airfield in the Hessian Bibliography
Coordinates: 50 ° 10 ′ 40.3 " N , 8 ° 39 ′ 36.7" E