More Than 800 Children And Young People Actively Helped Out To Make BUGA Dresden 2033 a reality

More than 800 children and young people from 13 Dresden schools became intensively involved with the planning of the National Garden Show between September 2025 and February 2026. In a total of 20 workshops, they came up with a large number of ideas for the design of BUGA’s core areas. The results have now been presented publicly and handed over to the city administration as well as to BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH.

The participation process was implemented by the Children and Youth Commissioner of the City of Dresden as a coordination and contact point for the entire participation process along with help from partners and financial support from BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH.

The initial phase concluded with two evaluation events on March 19, 2026 at the Children, Youth and Family Center at the Dresden-Plauen train station and on March 25, 2026 at Café Luby located in the Leuben district of Dresden.

Mayor Dirk Hilbert praised their commitment. “The ideas and perspectives of thechildren and young people have demonstrated in an impressive way how committed and creative young people can be in addressing the future of their city. BUGA 2033 offers us the opportunity to further develop Dresden together and this, naturally, includes taking the voices of the younger generation seriously and incorporating them into the overall planning.”

Anke Lietzmann, the Children’s and Youth Commissioner for the City of Dresden, emphasized, “The 2033 National Garden Show (BUGA) is a great opportunity for Dresden and it should also be an opportunity for young people. That’s why it was important for us to involve both children and young people right from the very beginning. Over 800 young people from Dresden have contributed their own ideas, wishes and perspectives. This diversity of voices represents a great asset to the planning process. Their suggestions are now being incorporated into the competition brief for the planners and will help ensure that BUGA will be attractive, vibrant and future-oriented from the perspective of young people. Participation is not only an important component of good urban development but also a clear mandate for municipalities to involve young people in decisions that affect their lives.”

Participants developed their proposals for the BUGA core areas using both analog and digital formats. The emphasis was placed on South Park and the Gravel Pit Leuben as well as the BUGA categories of open space design, social and cultural offerings as well as buildings and structures.

The process, coordinated by the Children’s and Youth Commissioner, was supported by the Dresden Children’s and Youth Office and KulturLeben UG. A digital participation tool developed specifically for children and young people by the Dresden start-up Scenerii
also helped bring regional innovation into the process. During the workshops, the students first explored the various sites and then developed their concepts based on their findings. While students from grammar and secondary schools visualized their ideas using digital models, children from primary and special needs schools creatively turned their ideas into physical models.

The following specific ideas and suggestions for the BUGA core areas were most frequently expressed:

• Gravel Pit Leuben: trees, sun loungers including roofing and places for sitting down, a kiosk, trash cans and a jetty; a campfire area, tent sites and places to provide feedback
• South Park: a playground, a football field, a lake or a pond as well as an insect hotel, a
  kiosk, a trash can, a lookout tower as well as a spring fountain, fire and barbecue areas,
  a graffiti wall and a chill-out area.

“BUGA 2033 is not just about creating new green spaces. It is also creating spaces for the future for generations to come, places where children and young people will be able to develop, meet and help shape their own city. It is precisely their perspectives that open our eyes to the future. That is why it has been a top priority to involve their voices early on and make their ideas an integral part of the planning,” said Marcel Timmroth, Managing Director of BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH.

The German Federal Horticultural Society also supports the active participation of both children and young people As Managing Director Dr. Achim Schloemer explained,

“National Garden Shows demonstrate how important green spaces are for livable cities. When children and young people are involved in the design process, then they have the chance to experience how their commitment can have an impact.” The evaluation events will mark the beginning of a long-term participatory process. The submitted ideas will be reviewed for feasibility and will contribute to actively shaping BUGA 2033 from the perspective of young people.