German Cities Push Parking Reform and Facility Renovations to Free Space

A new study by Lödige Industries, bable smart cities and the IFH Köln finds that better parking‑space management can free valuable urban land for housing, green areas and pedestrian infrastructure. The research, based on a representative German survey, shows 93 % of respondents consider good accessibility essential, while 67 % say reaching city centres without a car would be difficult. In Berlin alone, publicly recorded street parking occupies about 14.6 km² – an area comparable to a small town. Dr. Markus Preißner, scientific director at IFH Köln, stresses that “the car remains important for many, but the challenge is to organise mobility more space‑efficiently.”

In Berlin’s Treptow‑Köpenick district, the FEZ (Freizeit‑ und Erholungszentrum) in the Wuhlheide faces extensive renovation needs. The complex spans 13 000 m² of indoor space and 175 000 m² of outdoor area, housing facilities such as the Astrid‑Lindgren stage, the Alice Museum for children, a space‑flight centre, a music academy, sports fields and a swimming hall that recorded 120 483 visitors in 2024. SPD politician Paul Bahlmann has called for a binding renovation plan with clear responsibilities and secured financing to address the building’s technical and structural deficits.