After the demolition of the city walls in the 19th century and their transformation into Park, the city center was again surrounded in the 20th century. Now through asphalt and traffic. It divides the center of Arnhem. The dual infrastructural loop of outer and inner canal holds the inner city of Arnhem hostage within its encirclement, , thus preventing the inner city from being connected to the surrounding neighborhoods. The fragmented green zone that is isolated between the traffic lanes does not function as a park, which means that – however friendly it may be – strengthens the barrier effect. Arnhem is selling itself short with this.
By squeezing traffic in the center, as is already happening in many cities, through traffic is stimulated to drive around the city instead of through. As a result, we can remove a few lanes and transform the fragmented greenscape into a connecting park to stroll and stay. The canals thus become a park again; The Singel Park! It connects Veluwe, Rhine, city center and surrounding districts with each other. A more climate-proof city, with cleaner air, more biodiversity and always just one step away from Arnhem’s most distinctive quality: the landscape.

Current situation: The canals are a barrier in the city. Future situation: The canals will become an enclosed park.

Willemsplein becomes Willemspark

Arnhem has two large bus stations a few hundred meters away from each other. That’s one traffic circle too many. By removing the six bus lanes at Willemsplein, a large open space is created that can be used as a green living space, right in the heart of the city. Visitors who walk to the center via Central Station are welcomed at Willemsplein in the typical Arnhem: The green city on the Veluwe.

Zypsepoort: gateway to the Veluwe

The city center and Sonsbeek park are only a few hundred meters away from each other, but due to the high traffic, they are two different worlds. Theexcess asphalt at the Zypsepoort will be removed and space will be created for large trees, plants and a wide bicycle and walking zone. This creates a beautiful green carpet to the iconic Park Sonsbeek, in other words: Sonsbeek extends a green tentacle to the city center.

Greening the Nelson Mandela Bridge

By also transforming the Mandela Bridge from an urban highway into a ‘square over the Rhine’, the green canal is completed and continued as a connection to Meinerswijk and Arnhem South. The grey, oversized infrastructural relic from the car-friendly 1970s becomes a connector of North and South from a physical and mental barrier. From obstacle to public space with residential quality and a great view over the city, the Rhine and the geographical center of the city: Meinerswijk floodplains park.