New playgrounds, an intensive approach to the nuisance in Kloosterveste and more meeting places in the neighbourhoods. These are three of a total of six ideas that the Asser city council wants to work with. The initiatives were recently presented during a motion market.
The motions came from various working groups comprising councilors from various political parties. The groups came up with the plans after a motion market that the municipality of Assen held at the end of June. During this market, residents of Assen could share plans for the city. The market eventually resulted in six concrete motions, all of which were adopted during the city council.
The motion market was the conclusion of the so-called Council on Tour, during which council members visited the neighborhoods of the provincial capital to hear what ideas are playing among the residents.
According to Michiel Hasslacher of the VVD, a quarter of the initiatives on the motion market were about play and meeting places. “Because people want a good environment to grow up in,” said the party chairman.
This afternoon, the party came up with a plan on behalf of a working group to contribute financially to new playgrounds. The council agreed with the plan to include a one-off 450,000 euros in the vision on Exercise, Meeting, Play and Sports (BOSS).
Specifically, a motion was submitted for the Zonnereep playground in Assen-East. The council wants to contribute 24,000 euros for the sustainability of the associated building, fire-retardant curtains and a new roof at the entrance.
In addition, the council approved a structural subsidy of 1200 euros. The neighborhood and playground association Anreperstraat and the surrounding area needs that amount for the annual maintenance of the playground equipment and the inspection of the fire extinguishing equipment.
“De Zonnereep is an example of a successful residents’ initiative, both in terms of existence – almost eighty years – and self-reliance. The association has so far paid for everything itself from contributions and has never approached the municipality before,” said Willard Bouwmeester of the PvdA.
Another plan that the council can use is to ensure that there are enough meeting places in every neighbourhood. For example, Assen wants to investigate the possibilities of retaining or taking over the Red Cross building. The council also wants to look at joint use of the Dissel, the current community building in Marsdijk.