Park Burgemeester Geukerspark, Helmond, the Netherlands

The ‘Burgemeester Geukers Park' in Helmond, The Netherlands, opened in 2020. It is an impressive example of urban renewal and sustainable green development. The park was created on a former industrial site and has since been transformed into a green oasis in the city centre. This area contains more than 30 different species of trees and 26,000 perennials, bringing colour and biodiversity in all seasons.

The park is located in the heart of Helmond, where there used to be a gas factory. The factory was demolished in 2012 and the area remained a wasteland that also served as a car park. It was eventually decided by the city council that it would be turned into a city park.
Jack Vogels, Senior Project Manager Engineering office at Helmond City Council says: ‘The park is part of a broad redevelopment of the city centre, with the aim of creating a green, liveable environment that both enhances biodiversity and improves the quality of urban life.’ The industrial character is reflected in a contemporary way throughout the park, including through the choice of materials, an old boiler plant as an art object and the robust furniture. The trees in the park reflect the character of the region: the eastern part has the look of the drier sandy soils, with lots of pines and grasses. As you go further west, the proportion of deciduous trees and flowering plants increases. This requires the right knowledge when it comes to planting.
Vogels says: ‘The realisation of Burgemeester Geukerspark involved a lot of research and custom-made solutions. However, the quality factor remained high to the end. This has led to a wonderful result.’
 

Planting aimed at climate adaptation
In terms of planting, the Burgemeester Geuker spark represents Helmond in miniature, as it were. The western part, the stream valley, is lower and wetter while the eastern part is like the city; higher and dry. The choice of trees anticipates this, for instance by using pines in the dry part. For the forty trees in the park, we mainly looked for climate-adaptive species. The Burgemeester Geukerspark is a counterpart to the ‘Kasteeltuin’, located in the same city. That park contains mainly indigenous species, while Burgemeester Geukerspark does not. Furthermore, an assortment that is attractive all year round has been chosen. The park is in bloom from March until the end of September and both evergreen and deciduous species have been used. A combination of tall, feathered and multi-trunked trees and a diversity of leaf shapes was also used.

The planting is designed in undulating shapes, inviting visitors to wander through the park and experience its natural beauty. Plantings include Styphnolobium japonicum trees, Heptacodium miconioides and Gymnocladus dioica, which provide shade and cooling in summer. For winter attractiveness, tree species with attractive bark were used in addition to evergreen species. The Municipality of Helmond selected the desired trees itself through a nursery safari. Ebben provided advice right from the tender phase and during the selection of the trees to ensure that everything went as smoothly as possible. The nursery also monitored the trees several times during the first growing season.
 

Planting increases social interaction
The park has had a significant impact on its surroundings. Besides improving air quality and providing a green lung in the city, the park has increased social interaction by creating a pleasant place for recreation, sports and relaxation. The park contributes to urban biodiversity and is a popular meeting place, with seating and picnic areas and play facilities in the literary playground for children. Thus, Burgemeester Geukerspark combines ecological functions with social interaction and recreation, significantly enhancing the quality of life of Helmond's residents.  The park also plays a role in climate adaptation by collecting rainwater and reducing heat stress in the city, thanks to the reintroduction of the ‘Stadse Aa’, a historic water stream that previously ran underground. ‘We still get positive feedback and the naturally critical inhabitants of Helmond are only too proud of this beautiful park,’  said Vogels.

No wonder that the project was nominated for the Dutch preliminary round of the Green Cities Europe Award in 2024. The Burgemeester Geukerspark is not only an aesthetic addition, but also a functional part of Helmond's sustainable future.