Local children excluded: Playground at the Seehotel controversial!

Local children excluded: Playground at the Seehotel controversial!

A new sign at the Templiner Ahorn Seehotel is causing quite a stir among residents and is the main topic in town. The sign makes it clear that the playground behind the hotel is only accessible to hotel guests, which is met with great incomprehension by the locals. Enrico Maaß, a long-time resident, played on this site in his childhood and is very upset about the current situation. “This has always been a public place for children,” he expresses his displeasure while reporting on a security guard who now controls access to the playground and turns away locals.

The hotel director, Alexander Methner, understands the unrest among the residents, but sees no other option due to excessive acts of vandalism and a tense atmosphere between hotel guests and young people. Recently there has been an increase in incidents in which hotel guests have been insulted by older children. “Guests pay for their stay and have a right to use the playground,” Methner said, pointing out that the damage was caused by vandalism and trash dumping.

The playground itself has a lot to offer: climbing frames, swings and trampolines make it attractive for children. The hotel also offers an indoor play world that guarantees fun regardless of the weather. There is also a beautiful bathing beach on the nearby Lübbesee, a boat rental service and numerous hiking and cycling trails in the area. A real paradise for families, but only for those who live in the hotel.

Public places and their use

Public playgrounds are bound to strict guidelines in the spirit of child safety. According to the guidelines, playgrounds must be monitored regularly to ensure their safety. This primarily concerns the correct equipment of the play equipment, the placement and the surface. However, this does not seem to be permitted for the new playground behind the Ahorn Seehotel as it is not accessible to the general public. There is also a clear expectation in the neighborhood that such open spaces are accessible to all, while fines for unauthorized activities such as playing football or bringing dogs can be assessed by the relevant security service.

The residents are now demanding a return to the old regulations. They hope that those responsible at the hotel will take this request into account. “A playground should be there for all children, not just for hotel guests,” says Maaß, summing up the feelings of parents and residents. You want to know: What will become of the children who cannot afford 300 euros for an overnight stay, but still have the right to carefree fun?

The hotel has at least announced that it would like to give residents access to other facilities. But so far the playground remains reserved for hotel guests and controls are being increased. The dialogue between the hotel and the community is now on the agenda. It remains to be seen whether a compromise can be found that meets the needs of both hotel guests and Templin residents.