Winterthur Stadtgarten Transformation: First Phase Complete, Sustainable Future Takes Root
A revitalized Winterthur Stadtgarten is beginning to take shape, with the first stage of a comprehensive renovation now complete. The project, focused on enhancing accessibility and sustainability, has introduced new amenities and infrastructure to the popular urban green space.
The city of Winterthur reports that the recently finished work centers around the eastern parking area, now boasting new benches, improved paths, vibrant flower displays, and a modern toilet building. These additions aim to improve the visitor experience and create a more welcoming atmosphere.
Design & New Amenities
Approximately ten meters of new seating elements have been installed, described by officials as a special design feature within the garden. Notably, the project prioritized the reuse of existing materials, with existing wooden benches carefully processed and reassembled. Beyond seating, a large flower garden featuring a diverse range of species – including game, decorative, and crop plants – has been established. New, climate-resistant trees have also been planted, with specific attention paid to sealing and enriching the soil along Lindstrasse.
A new pergola has been constructed between the water basin and the school building, equipped with connections to support potential summer catering services. Newly created lawns are currently cordoned off to allow for establishment and ensure they can withstand foot traffic.
Enhanced Connectivity & Water Management
The renovation has also focused on improving the garden’s overall flow and sustainability. By demolishing a dividing wall towards the old town school building, the Stadtgarten now feels more open, and pedestrian routes have been streamlined. This improved connectivity aims to better link the garden with surrounding cultural institutions like the Art and Natural Museum and the Theater Winterthur.
A significant element of the project is the implementation of advanced water technology. The former coal cellar beneath the old town school building’s parking lot has been repurposed into a rainwater reservoir. This innovative system will collect and reuse rainwater and fountain water for irrigating the garden, reducing reliance on municipal water sources. A complete system including sinking systems, filter shafts, and pressure lines has been installed to support this reuse. The park’s water basin, previously deemed unsafe by modern standards, has been renovated, upgraded, and connected to the new reservoir via a circulation pump.
School Area Improvements & Future Plans
The parking lot behind the school building has been removed, replaced with a new outdoor area for school use and a dedicated shelter for bicycles and containers.
The next phase of the renovation has already begun, focusing on the area between the Art Museum Winterthur | Reinhart am Stadtgarten and Merkurplatz. This stage will involve work management, route adjustments, renewal of path edges, installation of new lighting and an irrigation system, and preparation for a new playground staircase. A key feature of this phase will be the creation of new playgrounds in both the park and at the school building.
Despite the ongoing construction, officials state that the Stadtgarten will remain largely accessible to the public throughout the two-year renovation period. The entire project has been approved by Parliament at a cost of 4.9 million Swiss Franken, with Stadtgrün Winterthur anticipating completion by the summer of 2026.
