Green Play City | Dransdorf & Dates

The Green Play City in Bonn-Dransdorf is not an ordinary playground and not a classic park either, but a developed nature experience area where willow structures, art, movement, and environmental education come together. The area covers about 4,500 square meters, is located on the edge of the Meßdorfer Feld, and has been a place for many years where visitors can not only look at nature but experience it directly. More than 30 willow sculptures shape the image of the facility; they have been growing since 1999 and make the Green Play City an extraordinary destination in Bonn. The history goes even further back: as early as 1996, the city of Bonn provided an area in the former city horticulture, and since January 2007, the Science Shop Bonn has been responsible for the project. Today, the Green Play City connects local history, civic engagement, and a very special form of open space design. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/239018))

Dates, Open Sundays, and Current Events

Those searching for “Green Play City Bonn dates” mainly want to know when the area is actually accessible. The official website answers this very clearly: From April to September, Open Sundays usually take place on the first Sunday of the month, mostly from 1 PM to 5 PM. Admission is free, and the format is explicitly aimed at families, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to spend a relaxed Sunday in nature. For the year 2026, the website currently lists the dates June 7, July 12, August 2, and September 6; the program for June 7 will be announced in due course. So, anyone planning a visit should check the calendar in advance, as special events, workshops, or additional program points are announced separately. This mixture of regular operation and seasonal highlights makes the Green Play City particularly relevant for searches for “dates” and “program.” ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

The program structure is deliberately kept lively. The Green Play City collaborates with the Brotfabrik, which offers theater and concerts on site; the program usually starts at 3 PM. This already shows that it is not just about a walk through a green area, but about a real event venue with cultural aspirations. Additionally, the website mentions other recurring formats, including care meetings for willow cutting and intercultural events like the Africa Festival. This mixture of art, culture, nature, and participation explains why many people perceive the play city not just as a destination but as a recurring place for encounters. For SEO, the combination of “dates,” “events,” and “Open Sundays” is particularly strong because it best reflects the actual use of the location. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

For visitors, the most important practical point is: The Green Play City is not regularly open all year round, but mainly during the season from April to September and on special dates. Anyone coming with children, in a group, or for a specific program point should read the current announcement and possibly contact in advance. The area can also be used by arrangement for individual occasions, which makes planning even more flexible. From the perspective of a good visitor decision, this is helpful because one can specifically plan the outing for the appropriate Sunday or a booked group window. Thus, a simple search term like “green play city bonn dates” quickly becomes a concrete, planable leisure idea with real added value. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Address, Directions, and Parking in Dransdorf

The search terms related to “address,” “directions,” and “parking” are particularly important for the Green Play City because the area is not directly located on a major main road, but on a separate field path in Bonn-Dransdorf. The official site mentions the entrance near the fork in the road Im Dransdorfer Feld / An der Schwarzen Brücke; for car access, the road An der alten Stadtgärtnerei is described, while the actual access is reached further on foot. The area is located in a zone closely connected to the Meßdorfer Feld and the former city horticulture. This is precisely why the Green Play City is a classic destination for people who consciously seek a nature-close, somewhat hidden location and do not expect a sterile event space. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Public transport makes getting there quite feasible. The official directions mention bus lines 610 and 611 with a stop at Hans-Sachs-Straße; from there, it goes up the hill via Siemensstraße and then into the path An der alten Stadtgärtnerei. Other options include the S-Bahn line 23 with a stop at Bonn-Endenich-Nord and the city rail lines 18 and 68 with stops at Robert-Kirchhoff-Str. and Dransdorf. The paths are indicated with a walking time of about 5 to 20 minutes each. This is important for families, groups, and individual visitors because the Green Play City is also easily accessible without a car. For the SEO topics “directions” and “Dransdorf,” this specific route description is particularly valuable as it not only names the district but also provides real orientation. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Regarding parking, the official statement is clear: Parking is only available on the street Auf dem Dransdorfer Berg. Therefore, anyone coming by car should not try to drive directly to the entrance but should park there and walk the last section on foot. Additionally, bicycles can be secured at the bike rack in the entrance area; approaches from other directions, such as via Endenich or Duisdorf, are also possible through the Meßdorfer Feld. This clear separation of car, bike, and footpath is very helpful for planning because it makes the location seem somewhat secluded, yet still practically accessible. This combination of a quiet location and clear access makes the Green Play City particularly relevant for searches for “parking Bonn Dransdorf.” ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Willow Sculptures, Photos, and the Special Nature Experience

The visual core of the Green Play City is the willow sculptures. More than 30 living structures made of willow rods stand on the premises, connecting nature and art and creating an extraordinary appearance in Bonn. Among the well-known forms are the Rock’n’Roll House and the Fast Breeder, which are now many meters high and wide. The official description emphasizes that these sculptures have been growing since 1999 and continue to change. This is precisely what distinguishes the Green Play City from a conventionally designed recreational facility: here, the architecture grows rather than remaining static. For the search query “Green Play City photos,” this is an obvious reason, as the facility provides strong, very photogenic motifs with living lines, shadows, passages, and organic structures. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

The official WILA site describes the Green Play City not only as a place to look at but as a space to discover. Children and young people find plenty of nature to experience in and around the sculptures, while adults can simply relax or have a picnic there. Furthermore, additional elements are mentioned in the sources that make the area even more exciting: a permaculture garden, wine cultivation, a wild bee breeding facility, and the walkable sound-producing Dransdorfer Egg. A PDF tour of the willow area also shows that the facility is intentionally designed as a combination of spatial experience, nature reference, and design. For visitors, this means: those who come with open eyes discover not just a single object but a whole ensemble of growing form, use, and history. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/239018))

Even if the search query often simply reads “photos,” it usually reflects the desire to assess the atmosphere in advance. The official materials help with this: they show that the Green Play City is a visually strong area that is particularly suitable for photos, family moments, and a quiet stroll. From the available information, it can also be inferred that a visit on an Open Sunday is particularly sensible for photography and first impressions because the area is then regularly accessible and comes alive with programming. This is a practical conclusion from the opening hours and the event format, not a separate official recommendation. So, anyone looking for a location with a natural backdrop, living structures, and unusual image motifs will find a very unique place in the Green Play City. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

History of the Green Play City in Bonn

The history of the Green Play City begins with an urban area and a very unusual idea. In 1996, the city of Bonn made available a 7,500 square meter area in the vicinity of its city horticulture, where the German Werkbund realized an extraordinary initiative. The project was led by Luzia Mayer and Dr. Walfried Pohl. The goal was not a classic park but a lively experiment with willow rods, nature design, and nature-oriented architecture. Early texts on the project emphasize that it was intended as a social sculpture and invited people from very different backgrounds to co-create. This open, experimental attitude has remained part of the identity of the Green Play City to this day and explains why the place has become so culturally and educationally significant for Bonn. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/239018))

An important milestone was the presentation at the EXPO 2000. At that time, over 60 objects were able to show a glimpse of what is possible with Green Building. Later texts describe the project as a deliberately growing system that has been further developed with relatively little public funding but a lot of initiative. After ten years of intense engagement, the sponsorship was transferred to the Science Shop Bonn at the end of 2006; since January 2007, WILA has been officially responsible for the project. This transformed an experimental Werkbund project into a permanently supported, non-profit place for nature experience and environmental education. This development is a central part of the history and also a reason why the Green Play City appears so independent today: it has not only emerged but has grown organically. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/239018))

The official texts also make it clear that the Green Play City was never intended as a finished museum. Rather, the houses, figures, and other objects were meant to inspire visitors and literally create opportunities for development. The facility remained in close proximity to the International Garden Bonn, which is also operated by the Science Shop. From this spatial proximity, a place of encounter for people from different cultures emerged, who can unfold together in and with nature. This aspect makes the history of the Green Play City more than just a pure location history: it tells of local participation, educational use, and a sustainable idea that has been carried on for decades. For understanding the location, this is crucial because it also derives its current use as an event venue and learning space. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/239018))

Renting, Children's Birthdays, and Environmental Education

Another important search area is “Green Play City children's birthday” or generally “renting the Green Play City.” Here, the official website also provides clear information: The area can be used by arrangement for individual occasions, such as children's birthdays or company celebrations. The services include handing over the keys and an introduction to the site rules; during the agreed time, the group has exclusive and sole usage rights. For many families and teams, this is attractive because the Green Play City thus becomes a private, nature-oriented event venue without losing its special character. The cost packages are tiered according to the number of people and duration, and for very large groups, an individual agreement is possible. So, anyone planning for a specific occasion will find an unusual alternative to standard spaces. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

For practical planning, the hints from the WILA site are particularly important. There are no electricity or water connections and no trash cans, so all guests should prepare the organization well. Additionally, it is important that the area is to be left as it was found; damages are the responsibility of the perpetrators. Campfires and barbecuing are allowed, but only under clear safety rules and in designated areas. This information is relevant not only for organizers but also for anyone who understands the Green Play City as a consciously nature-oriented space. Precisely because the location relies on naturalness, it requires a certain degree of personal responsibility, which in turn fits into the overall experience. This is a typical case of “beautiful but unpretentious”: the facility offers a lot of atmosphere but simultaneously demands realistic preparation. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

The Green Play City is particularly strong in the area of environmental education. The cooperation partner ZUB e.V. Bonn offers environmental educational workshops for children and adults upon request. The range extends from programs for daycare groups and school classes to children's birthdays and company outings. Additionally, there are training sessions for teachers and educators so that nature and natural sciences can be conveyed in a well-founded and practical manner. In connection with the living willow structures, a learning place is created that does not come across as preachy but rather experiential. Therefore, in terms of SEO logic, in addition to “renting” and “children's birthday,” the terms “environmental education,” “workshops,” and “learning place” are also important. They not only describe offers but also the actual identity of the place. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Reviews, Visitor Tips, and What to Expect On-Site

Those searching for “Green Play City reviews” usually want to know if a visit is worthwhile and how others experience the place. The official information primarily shows one thing: The Green Play City is designed as a space for experiences, not as a strictly curated facility. The texts state in essence “Play City, not museum”; this fits very well with a place where children discover, adults relax, and groups can become active together. This mixture of openness and nature is what makes it appealing. Those preparing for a visit should therefore expect less a classic sight and more a lively open space with changing programs, natural structures, and plenty of room for movement. This is the reason why the place works so well for many families. ([epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de](https://epflicht.ulb.uni-bonn.de/download/pdf/101581))

From the search terms “photos” and “reviews,” it can also be inferred that many people want to gather visual impressions before their first visit. The official website already provides the right material with the photographic tour and descriptions of the willow structures. From the opening hours and the event format, it can also be practically concluded that an Open Sunday is the best entry point if one wants to experience the place for the first time. Then the atmosphere is lively, one meets other visitors, and the area presents itself in its natural state of use. This is a sensible conclusion from the available information, not an official promotional statement. So, anyone wanting to get a feel for the Green Play City should plan their first visit for such a date. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

For the actual stay, simple but important things are recommended: enough time, comfortable shoes, a look at the current calendar, and, if a group visit is planned, a prior reservation. Since there is no regular infrastructure on-site with electricity, water, or trash cans, a mindful approach is particularly important. At the same time, this is precisely part of the charm: the Green Play City does not appear polished but rather lively, organic, and somewhat hidden. Those who embrace this will find a place that has become rare in Bonn: green, creative, family-friendly, and yet quiet. Thus, the Green Play City is a location that can not only be searched for but can always be rediscovered. ([wilabonn.de](https://wilabonn.de/gruene-spielstadt/))

Sources:

• Green Play City – WILA Science Shop Bonn
• Directions – Science Shop Bonn e. V.
• From Hedges to Houses – The Green Play City
• WILA inform 57 – The Green Play City – how hedges become houses