Landscaping around the fountain
The town of Rodgau has carried out a comprehensive redesign of the centrally located ‘Fountain of Youth’ on Puiseauxplatz in Nieder-Roden. The water in the fountain basins has been drained. Instead, the basins now serve as a structured, vibrant green space. The new planting scheme follows the tried-and-tested guidelines for all municipal green spaces and focuses on sustainability and visual enhancement. A mixture of two larger, red-leaved shrubs and tall grasses was used, combined with smaller grasses and various perennials. The varying heights of the plants give the central flowerbed a clear structure. Care has been taken to ensure that the fountain’s striking sculpture remains visible and is not overgrown. The plants offer year-round foliage and attractive flowers, which also serve as a food source and refuge for small creatures. Furthermore, the plants have been selected so that they can easily withstand dry spells. The dense planting immediately creates a harmonious overall appearance and prevents the area from being trampled. No pruning is planned – the plants are allowed, and indeed encouraged, to grow beyond the edges of the basins.
Cooling by misting
To offer residents some relief from the heat on hot days, the town has launched a pilot project: a specially designed water misting machine is now providing refreshing relief right in the town centre. To compensate for the lack of water in the fountain, the town has been trialling a water misting machine for some time. The misting system is operated by a timer to provide relief from the heat during the height of summer. With these measures, the town is making a targeted effort to noticeably improve the quality of the public space across the entire square, whilst at the same time counteracting the misuse or misappropriation of the fountain as a rubbish bin. The council hopes that all residents will work together to ensure that the new area is kept in this beautiful condition in the long term.