Solingen’s Ittertal Park stays open after cutting costs

Ittertal Leisure Park saved from closure with €6M rescue deal

Ittertal Leisure Park in Solingen will remain open after a financial rescue plan was agreed. The park, run by Neue Arbeit Ittertal gGmbH, faced closure due to insolvency caused by soaring energy and costs. A new company will now take over operations, ensuring its future.

The City of Solingen has also secured €6 million in federal funding for much-needed renovations, while the local council approved ongoing subsidies to support the park’s management.

The crisis began when Neue Arbeit Ittertal gGmbH filed for insolvency, unable to cope with rising costs. This forced the Ittertal Support Association, which had managed the park since 2009, to seek urgent help from the city. The association had previously run the site independently, with some staff wages covered by the job centre.

Talks between the association, the insolvency administrator, the job centre, and Solingen’s Department of Sports and Leisure led to a solution. A new nonprofit company, Ittertal Freizeitpark GmbH i.L., will now operate the park, splitting its work into two areas: 'Leisure Operations' and the 'Ittertal Creative Workshop'. The workshop, a key partner for job centre employment schemes, will move to the leisure park as part of the changes.

To fund improvements, the association will rely on donations to cut costs and reduce the city’s financial burden. The tender process for detailed renovation planning is already underway. Solingen City Council has also committed to a monthly subsidy for the association from January 2024, ensuring stability for the park’s future.

The federal government’s €6 million grant for sports facility upgrades will cover major renovation work. With these measures in place, the park’s long-term operation is now secure, and planned upgrades can go ahead as scheduled.

The leisure park will continue serving the community under the new company’s management. Renovations, backed by federal funding, will modernise the site, while the city’s subsidy and donation efforts will ease financial pressure. The Ittertal Creative Workshop’s relocation will also strengthen ties with local employment programmes.