District receives 574,200 euros from the state for Green Trails app
A very good, consistent quality of the trail and cycle paths as well as a high level of safety for users - that is the goal of the project "Trail and path network with digital access" of the Green Trails special purpose association, to which 14 municipalities and the district have joined forces. The project is supported by the state of Hesse through the promotion of smart municipalities and regions in the "Strong Homeland Hesse" programme. Digital Minister Prof. Dr. Kristina Sinemus handed over the funding notification for 574,200 euros to the District Administrator of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district, Jürgen van der Horst, during her summer trip.
"We are creating more and more places of the future throughout Hessen and are setting the pace for digitalisation. With responsible digitisation, we are shaping the state, for more quality of life, cohesion and for the jobs of tomorrow. The number of approved funding applications shows that 'Strong Homeland' responds to highly topical needs, especially in rural areas. In the Waldeck-Frankenberg district alone, six projects have been funded to date with over 3.8 million euros. Across Hesse, 73 projects have already been supported with almost 54 million euros," said the Digital Minister, adding: "14 municipalities and the district have joined forces to use digitalisation for tourism. This unprecedented inter-municipal cooperation is already purposeful and successful. With the app we are promoting, the trail and path network will become even more attractive for users. Here, digitalisation creates very concrete added value on the ground," said the digital minister.
The municipalities of Bad Arolsen, Bad Wildungen, Battenberg (Eder), Diemelsee, Diemelstadt, Edertal, Hatzfeld (Eder), Korbach, Lichtenfels, Twistetal, Vöhl, Volkmarsen, Waldeck and Willingen as well as the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg have joined forces in 2019 to build and operate a trail and cycle path network for mountain bikers and cyclists. With a length of around 400 kilometres, the trail network will soon connect the northernmost with the southernmost tip of the district. In order to create an uncomplicated solution for all those involved, the applicants now want to establish digital support with the joint development of a navigation and information app.
The app is not only intended for external but also for internal communication. Those involved internally, such as actors from forestry and hunting, have the possibility to use the app to report forestry and forestry work, damage to or on the trails, or hunting concerns that could restrict users from using the trails. Users are immediately informed about trail areas in the forest that are closed and not passable due to forestry work. At the same time, an alternative route is suggested to them. In addition to the above-mentioned information, the app offers external users the possibility to report information or damage on their own. In addition, the app offers an SOS function in the event of an emergency or accident.
The District Administrator of the Waldeck-Frankenberg district and Chairman of the Zweckverband Jürgen van der Horst is convinced of the benefits of the app: "Because behind the Green Trails there is also a great deal of communication management. We want to involve, address and involve many different groups of people - and use the digital possibilities for this. In addition to simplified communication and a good feedback channel, the app will also increase the user experience of the cyclists - and set an impulse in digital tourism. We are looking forward to this great project and are grateful for the support of the Digital Minister."
Background
In order to support municipalities and facilitate exchange and networking, the Hessian state government set up the Smart Regions Office in the House of the Minister for Digital Strategy and Development in spring 2020. This is a central contact point for all matters relating to smart municipalities. The "Strong Home Hessen" programme supports municipalities in important projects for the future. These include childcare, healthcare and strengthening local public transport. Around 20 million euros are available annually from 2020 to 2024 in the Minister's area of Digital Strategy and Development, divided into three measures. Four million euros each will flow from 2020 to 2024 into the digitalisation platform Civento, which will be made available by the State of Hesse to municipalities free of charge throughout the state. The platform is a central building block for the implementation of the Online Access Act in the municipal sector. In addition, municipalities can use it to process applications electronically - an important next step towards the full digitalisation of municipal administration. Another almost 16 million euros were made available for administrative digitisation in 2020. And thirdly, from 2021 to 2024, up to 16 million euros each will be used to fund municipal projects involving innovative projects in thematic areas of the digitalisation of municipal fields of action in the sense of Smart City / Smart Region. Projects will be supported with 100,000 euros to 2.5 million euros - with a funding rate of 90 percent and a maximum duration of two years.