EN
The Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Economics and Tourism, Daniela Schmitt, and the Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of the Interior, Michael Ebling, have handed over several funding decisions totalling 22.2 million euros to Mayor Guido Orthen. The state government is supporting the new construction and reconstruction of the spa park properties in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler as part of the urban development funding and the "Public Tourism Infrastructure" and "Aufbauhilfe 2021" funding programmes.
Reconstruction is progressing and many small and large advances are becoming increasingly visible. We have been able to combine funds from tourism promotion, urban development and reconstruction aid for the spa park properties. In this way, we are helping to take a further step towards improving the quality of life of local people," said Minister of Economic Affairs Daniela Schmitt and Minister of the Interior Michael Ebling.
The town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler will receive 7.5 million euros from the federal-state programme "Vibrant Centres - Active Towns", a further 9.7 million euros from the reconstruction aid fund and around 5 million euros as part of the "Public Tourism Structure" funding programme. The central measure of the funding decisions is the new construction of the Kurpark properties. A multifunctional building is to be constructed at the spa park properties, which will house the concert hall with the listed concert shell, the Haus des Gastes, including modern tourist information, a drinking hall with a drinking fountain for Bad Neuenahr's medicinal water, as well as a reading room, foyer and spa exhibition and the municipal library.
"With the funding, we primarily want to support sustainability, progress and the enhancement and further development of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler as a tourist destination and the entire region," said Minister of Economic Affairs Daniela Schmitt at the handover of the grant. "The project is an investment that will generate added value for the entire Ahr Valley, because tourism is and will remain one of the biggest drivers in the region."
"By providing broad support for the diverse projects, we want to preserve Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler as a sustainable town centre and rebuild and shape it together in precisely this spirit," added Schmitt and Ebling.
"The city would like to use part of the urban development funds to maintain and further develop the avenue structure in the city centre. To retain rainwater, for example, decentralised, underground rainwater storage structures are to be built and connected to the street drains and roof drainage pipes," said Interior Minister Michael Ebling. In the "Ahrweiler town centre" development area, the town is also planning to use the funds to modernise and repair private buildings. The reconstruction of the concert shell in the Spa gardens will also be supported with 510,000 euros from the "Aufbauhilfe 2021" special fund.
The reconstruction of the Obertorbrücke bridge and the bridge on Otlerstraße will also be co-financed from the reconstruction aid fund. Both bridges were destroyed by the floods and can now be rebuilt as foot and cycle bridges.
"The significant funding commitments from both the Ministry of the Interior (urban development and reconstruction) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs (tourism promotion) are helping us in particular to create an outstanding meeting place and cultural centre in our city. The construction of the new multifunctional building with a large concert hall and space for a wide range of events and leisure activities in the Spa gardens is an identity-creating milestone for us as a spa with over 160 years of tradition. Together with the reopened clinics, the hotel openings that have taken place and will take place in the future and the parks that still need to be renovated, we are gradually returning to our varied health, leisure and cultural programme," said Mayor Guido Orthen.
Jan Ritter, Managing Director of Ahrtal und Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler Marketing GmbH, added: "As the operator, we are delighted with the diverse usability of the building with all its synergies. The combination of the three main components, the Haus des Gastes (consisting of the tourist information centre and drinking hall with drinking fountain from the Großer Sprudel mineral spring), concert hall and town library, makes it possible to offer various cultural and leisure activities centrally under one roof. The obligatory dispensing centre for local remedies will also be located there. Staff and premises can thus be bundled in one place."
