Controversial ring road artwork Zuiderplantsoen demolished: City must go back to drawing board and neighborhood can have a say

The plan was to leave an existing section of ring road viaduct as a reminder of the road that cut through the Oosterpoortbuurt for almost sixty years. Although the 30-metre section of viaduct would be brightened up with red and green and, given its size, would become the largest work of art in the city, it also remained ‘just’ a stretch of old ring road. A group of local residents did not like this and protested.

Karin Vrijma started a petition and found more and more supporters in her path. On Wednesday, some of these local residents made themselves heard at the city council. For example, Joris de Moel does not want to be reminded of the ring road, which is seen as a mistake from the past. And just like De Moel, Harm Hazelhoff wants green instead of concrete. “Show courage, save money and destroy it,” Hazelhoff calls on the municipal council.

Too little participation

According to local residents, they did not have enough say in the plans. Moreover, few Oosterpoorters would be waiting for the work of art. One of them disagrees and expresses support for the so-called memory pavilion. “I think it is a cool and elegant design,” says Bert Nijmeijer. He believes that the plan should go ahead. “If the people who shout the loudest always got their way, we would now have no Forum, Groninger Museum or perhaps no Martini Tower.”

Yet the resistance weighs more heavily on the municipal council. Almost all politicians in Groningen believe that the neighborhood has not had a sufficient say in the plans. Councilor Philip Broeksma (GroenLinks) must reluctantly acknowledge that this is indeed the case.

The municipality was under the assumption that two local residents were involved on behalf of the district in the choice of the memory pavilion, including the chairman of the neighborhood consultation in the district. He moved over the years, but remained active in the committee that thought about the work of art. “The alarm bells should have gone off then,” Broeksma reflects. “But that didn’t happen.”

“The involvement with the neighborhood was only in the form of one person. The neighborhood was therefore insufficiently connected. We should have realized that earlier.” Whether participation is possible and perhaps necessary again? Broeksma would not find that illogical. “I think that will be the outcome and I would understand that very well. What the city council wants will happen.”

Hugs and congratulations

The statements by the municipal council and Broeksma put a big smile on the face of Karin Vrijma, who once started the resistance against the memory pavilion. They exchange hugs and congratulations with other opponents in the council chamber.

“We are now taking a step back in this process to come up with something together that a majority will like,” she says with relief. She could not have hoped that this would be the outcome when she started her petition. “It has caused so much frustration. Now we are going to look at alternatives, with participation and support.”

According to Broeksma, there is enough time for this. The old ring road is expected to be demolished early next year at the earliest. Until then, we can talk about the kind of artwork that the neighborhood would like. This may still be the memory pavilion, but it is clear that that chance has become a lot smaller.