What does an ideal city look like? A dino park would be nice, as would petting zoos and fountains. You might be able to get around on slides, but in any case on e-bikes or on a train. 24 children from Ebersberg have many more ideas for their “Lachstadt”, which they have now presented to Deputy Mayor Günter Obergrusberger (CSU). This was preceded by a workshop in which they illustrated their ideas artistically. If everything goes as planned, the children’s city could become a reality next summer – at least for a few days.
Following the example of larger and smaller play towns all over the world, Clemens Scheerer from the District Youth Council, Caterina Maurizi from the Ebersberg Foreigners’ Aid and the Third Mayor Lakhena Leng (Green Party) want to establish a similar project in Ebersberg during the 2023 summer holidays. The children should have a say right from the start – which is why girls and boys from Ebersberg met for a first planning workshop.
Cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes are taboo
The model town of Ebersberg, which the children had designed in the morning using paper, Lego blocks, figures and handicraft utensils, was scattered across the floor and tables in the entrance hall of the elementary school on Floßmannstraße. On a round trip with the floating Lego train, you drive on felt-tip streets past petting zoos, fountains, cultural parks, the market square, playgrounds, a paper town hall and even an environmental authority that is said to be responsible for the maintenance of the parks.
Because in the realm of the “Lachstadt” there should be no rubbish, cigarette smoke or car exhaust fumes. Residents only use sustainable means of transport to get around. The areas that are concreted over in reality by shopping centers and parking lots are transformed into a wooded natural landscape with lakes and meadows in the “Realm of the Laughing City”. There are only small stands and markets available for shopping. Because in addition to green energy, value is placed on sustainable use and careful handling of property. Even if the necessity of a police authority has not been denied, one does not find a prison in the Laughing City, as crimes simply do not occur. You can prove your citizenship in the “Reich der Lachstadt” with a self-designed, individually designed passport. The center of the city is the “Museum of Happiness”, where visitors can discover the secret of happiness.
With the help of the workshop, Lakhena Leng hopes to be able to give a foretaste of the project that is planned for the end of next summer in the Volksfesthalle. There, the children are supposed to put their ideas into practice in a five-day workshop with the support of skilled workers.