Luxembourg City Inaugurates €3.81m Inclusive Playground at Merl Park

On Tuesday 14 July 2026, the City of Luxembourg (VdL) officially inaugurated the new inclusive playground at Merl Park and invited residents of the surrounding neighbourhoods to a community gathering to mark the occasion.

The inauguration took place in the presence of Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City, Maurice Bauer, Chief Alderman of Luxembourg City, Patrick Goldschmidt, Luxembourg City Alderman, members of the Luxembourg City Municipal Council, Luxembourg's Minister of Justice and Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister for Media and Connectivity, Elisabeth Margue, as well as several hundred residents, including many families with children.

Welcoming those present, Mayor Lydie Polfer officially opened the new playground and invited visitors to explore its facilities.

According to the VdL, the new playground replaces a site that had gradually evolved into a collection of individual play installations over the years. The redesigned 7,500 m² facility follows a single inclusive concept, offering a wide variety of play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities while placing a particular emphasis on accessibility and shared play.

The project, which the VdL estimated at €3.81 million (including professional fees and taxes), was designed by Schwarze und Partner Landschaftsarchitekten and built between September 2025 and July 2026.

"If I hadn't known beforehand, I wouldn't have expected it. But because we pass by almost every day, we watched it grow and saw that it was going to be gigantic," Lydia Keilen, a Luxembourg-Merl resident who attended the opening with her daughter, told Chronicle.lu. While she said she had also liked the previous playground because "there was more green", she added: "There are trees here as well, and I think the children will have great fun. I think everybody will find something, and every week they'll have another favourite part.”

The final design followed a public consultation launched in 2021, during which residents, local stakeholders and children were invited to share ideas for the new playground. Following additional consultations in 2024, the concept was refined before construction began.

The playground places a particular emphasis on inclusion and accessibility. According to the VdL, specially adapted equipment enables children using wheelchairs to enjoy the facilities alongside other children, encouraging shared play and social interaction.

Its northern section features a 900 m² water play area equipped with pumps, fountains, channels and sand play elements, allowing children to experiment with water and explore how watercourses function. Different ground materials, including stone, sand and impact-absorbing surfaces, also create a sensory play experience.

At the centre of the playground stand two large towers inspired by a hydroelectric power station and a wind turbine. Connected by accessible walkways, climbing nets and tunnel bridges, the structures combine adventure play with educational elements introducing children to renewable energy.

The southern section includes a large oval swing area with classic, nest, toddler and inclusive swings designed for children with different needs. The play structures are made from sustainably sourced black locust wood, selected for its natural durability and low maintenance requirements. Like all VdL playgrounds, the new facility complies with national safety standards and is inspected by Luxcontrol, which awards the "Sécher Spillplaz" quality label.