Enhancing Urban Greenness
On October 31, 2025, the city of Aschaffenburg will join the nationwide "Unpave" project, an initiative aimed at enhancing urban living by replacing sealed surfaces with greenery. Organised by students from the University of Applied Sciences in Koblenz, the project encourages cities and citizens to bring more space for nature into urban life and combat climate change.
The "Unpave" competition has three categories: large city, medium-sized city, and small town. Aschaffenburg, falling into the medium-sized city category, has already made a significant impact. One such example is the small square at the corner of Buchenweg/Ulmenweg, which has been unsealed and redesigned as part of the initiative. After unsealing, a lawn was laid, three trees were planted, and new benches were installed. Approximately 315 square meters were unsealed, and the fountain was retained at the square.
Anyone, including clubs, schools, private individuals, companies, administrations, or other organizations, can join the "Unpave" initiative in Aschaffenburg. The city invites all its citizens to actively participate in this green endeavour. For more information on participation, visit www.unpave.de.
From October 31, 2025, participants can submit their unsealed stone projects along with before-and-after photos through a special online portal. The competition management will verify the entries, and the areas will be collected and evaluated for each municipality. Winners from each category will be honoured in November 2025.
In addition to the local competition, the "Unpave" project supports cities and citizens in promoting a more sustainable and livable cityscape. The goal is to recognise and reward those who contribute to creating more lively, greener urban spaces by removing concrete and asphalt surfaces. A "Star of the Month" unsealing project will be recognised monthly during the competition season.
For more information about the "Unpave" project and its nationwide impact, visit https://www.unpave.de/ and https://hfgg.de/events/event/now-unpaving-is-happening/. The future of Aschaffenburg's urban spaces is looking greener and more inviting, one unsealed stone project at a time.
