Future Mering: Citizens are actively shaping the Ludwig area!

Future Mering: Citizens are actively shaping the Ludwig area!

On November 24, 2025, a public event on shaping the future took place in Mering, which actively involved citizens in the process of urban development. The focus was on the Ludwig area, where citizens and experts were able to collect ideas for improving the quality of life in the community and reflect on the current implementation status of the integrated urban development concept (ISEK). This initiative is part of the ten-year local development in Mering, which is being supported by Mayor Mayer and a city planning office.

Around 35 participants discussed three central areas of action: mobility, market/supply and home/landscape/local recreation. Various topics were addressed, such as the expansion of cycle paths, digital offerings through the Mering app and accessibility in the community. The discussion showed broad citizen involvement and a strong interest in the further development of local infrastructure.

Results and future planning

In the first round of discussion, citizens' priorities were collected and recorded as thumbs-up pictures. These results are now being evaluated by the Dragomir urban planning office and will be incorporated into an updated catalog of measures. The publication of the results and a presentation to the local council are planned for the end of November.

Mayor Mayer pointed out that certain projects, such as the renovation of the Pope John's House, cannot be financed from urban development funding, which influences the planning of the multi-purpose hall. It is emphasized that urban development is seen as a collaborative effort, which gives citizens an active role in shaping their surroundings.

ISEK and its meaning

The Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK) has established itself as an important tool for the planning and development of urban areas. According to information from urban development funding, ISEK is a concept that includes analyses, goals and implementation steps and enables integrated, interdisciplinary collaboration that is based on the wishes of citizens. Such concepts are particularly important in cities like Münster, where the ISEK process has been running since 2018. The population there is expected to grow to an estimated 326,000 to possibly 347,000 residents by 2030, representing both a challenge and an opportunity for urban development.

Public participation is also very important in Münster: city forums and digital formats enable citizens to actively participate in the development process. The ISEK strategy includes ten integrated key themes, including climate protection, and is intended to help ensure sustainable urban development that meets the needs of a growing population.

These different approaches to urban development show how important it is to involve citizens in the process and to promote a shared understanding of the future design of urban living space. The topics of mobility, quality of life and environmental protection are particularly important. In summary, the ISEK process in Mering reinforces the valuable exchange between citizens, politicians and experts in order to shape a future worth living.