Green revolution on the marketplace: Bützow and Güstrow in competition!

Green revolution on the marketplace: Bützow and Güstrow in competition!

In the most recent development of urban design, the cities of Bützow and Güstrow present themselves as exciting examples of how citizen participation and urban beautification can go hand in hand. While Bützow placed large red concrete flower pots in the market square, which received mixed reactions, Güstrow is taking a similar approach. The colorful pots that can be seen in both cities are not only intended to enliven the cityscape, but also to implement the desire for more greenery. Mayor Christian Grüschow from Bützow has taken a clear position: “The pots are an answer to the demand for more green spaces” - and in Güstrow they were also planted with bee-friendly plants such as catnip and sage Nordkurier reports.

But it's not just the pots that are the focus. The two cities are also developing infrastructurally. Renovation work on the market square is currently underway in Güstrow, while construction work on a new school is progressing in Bützow. In Güstrow, the laying of house connections and power lines as well as the design of a water feature in front of the town hall are also important current projects. These measures will ensure that the Güstrow market square will soon shine in new splendor, while Bützow has already had a fresh market square since 2021, in which an impressive 680,000 euros were invested.

The role of citizen participation

A central aspect in the urban development of both places is citizen participation. Participatory budgeting was established in Bützow, which gives citizens the opportunity to actively participate in shaping their city. Güstrow, on the other hand, also has a participatory budget, but it offers less influence; Here, citizens are only allowed to submit proposals for smaller projects. The Güstrow participatory budget has a total volume of 30,000 euros, although individual measures may not exceed 10,000 euros. Citizens are invited to submit their ideas by July 31, 2024 so that the main committee can decide on September 26 how the funds should be used. The decision in favor of citizen participation is not only a reaction to economic and infrastructural challenges, it is also a response to the dwindling trust in political institutions, as [Gedankenpolitik](https://denkenpolitik.de/die-befühl-von-buerger participation-in-der-kommunalpolitik-opportunities-und-chauschungen/) notes.

Citizen participation is becoming increasingly important as it increases transparency in decision-making processes and ensures that citizens' opinions and needs are taken into account in policy-making. This creates a sense of community, which is extremely important in times of uncertainty and challenge. Mayor Grüschow and his Güstrow colleagues are therefore relying on participation formats that actively bring residents on board and thus strengthen local democracy.

Long-term visions and challenges

Although citizen participation is a promising step, it also poses challenges for cities. There is a need for additional financial resources and a belief that citizens want to actively participate in political processes. Like [Güstrow.de](https://www.guestrow.de/stadt-kultur-politik/nachrichten/pressemelde?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D =detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=1258&cHash=5127583cbcda817ff2eeb24eb75c8d1b) reports, the suggestions for citizen participation must be concrete and implementable in order to make the political decision-making processes not only more interesting but also more efficient. Cities are showing that they are willing to try new things to regain the trust of their citizens and promote sustainable urban development.

Overall, it shows that the cities of Bützow and Güstrow are well on their way to improving the quality of life of their citizens through creative approaches and citizen participation. Who knows, perhaps the success of these projects will inspire other cities to actively involve citizens in shaping their surroundings.