commotion? Sure, but not on an exaggerated scale. Preservation of the green character? With room for art and culture? Check. More catering? Should be possible. Residential building? From evil. The municipality of Emmen may continue to draw its wallet, but it will not open wide either.
These were some of the main principles that emerged during the first discussion of a new vision for the Rensenpark in Emmen.
The city council spoke yesterday about a fresh look at the beloved park. The old vision from 2017 urgently needed to be refined, said alderman Jisse Otter. Many ambitions had been set too high. The idea was that substantial investments were made in the park (by third parties, among others) and that high-quality architecture would be built left and right. The idea of the Rensenpark as a green and cultural hotspot remains intact, but more modest ambitions were a must.
The city council could therefore also think something of it. Wakker Emmen’s view of the park was broadly shared by other factions. Council member Marcel Poelman spoke about reducing the ambitions to a bucket scale. “Because we are not Paris.” He thought there should be room for sports, art and culture and catering.
He could live with the investment that is now being made in the metamorphosis of the Biochron into new accommodation for the Center for Visual Arts (CBK). But he did not see any more investments (in addition to maintenance) on the account of the municipality. “I’d rather see us encourage third parties to contribute.” The Rensenpark should absolutely not become an event site, but he has no objection to small-scale activities. Poelman also welcomed more catering establishments in the park.
Dirk van Dijken (CDA) wondered whether the latter might not be at the expense of the catering industry in the center. According to Poelman, other places in Emmen are not checked for competition either. “Moreover: if it is busy at your place, it will also drip at the neighbours.”
Many parties also took the opportunity to dream aloud. Trijntje Hummel would like to see the arrival of an annex of the Drents Museum in the park. “They have a depot with stuff they don’t use. We don’t think a lobby is an unnecessary luxury.” Marinus Kasteleijn (50Plus) helped Hummel out of that dream: he knew that the Asser museum was not interested in this. His group had already asked about it.
Martine Stulp (D66) started the well-known hobbyhorse of her faction: the move from the station to the Rensenpark. It would be an appropriate answer to the nuisance problems at the current station and it will ensure a good connection to the future Lower Saxony line. “If we can dream,” says Stulp. Klaas Bosma (PVV) feared that the nuisance will only move. Poelman van Wakker Emmen suggested that the relocation of the station may mean that a large part of the park has to be sacrificed for space.
The most sober view on matters came from the VVD faction. He would like to see the Rensenpark become a green walking park and not much more than that. Maybe some small events, but that’s about it. “Perhaps we can make the Rensenpark a little more compact on the edge and make this space available for homes,” says Anita Scheper. But then only in those places where there are currently buildings.
To a greater or lesser extent, the idea of housing did not appeal to the other factions. Only the PVV still felt something for this. Such as senior housing, Bosma suggested.
In the coming months, the municipality of Emmen will consult with the tenants of buildings in the park and local residents. All input is discussed again in the city council before a final tap is given in May or June.