Das Grüne U, Stuttgart

As part of the 1993 International Flowershow (IGA) a number of existing parks have been connected and a number of new parks have been developed to create a continuous string of public green spaces. This development is ongoing with the redevelopment of part of the Exhibition Site (Messe Gelände) into a park connecting the Höhenpark to the Feuerbacher Heide, an area of natural beauty. Together these green areas form an upturn U around the old city of Stuttgart; hence the name Parken des Grünes U (the parks of the green U).

The connections a mainly physical in nature and comprise of bridges across often sizable height differences and bundled infrastructure. Most of these new connections take the shape of spacious bridges with an access on a gentle slope making them very suitable for both foot traffic and cyclists.

The green U consists of several parks, some of which are historic, others are modern in character. The U starts at the former castle of the Dukes of Württemberg with the Oberer Schlossgarten (1) and continues downhill towards the Neckar river via the Mittlerer Schlossgarten (2), Unterer Schlossgarten (3), Park Villa Berg (4) and Park Rosenstein (5) to Park Wilhelma (6) - the city zoo. Rosenstein is connected to the Leibfriedscher Garten (7) by a large bridge. An even bigger bridge crosses the Heilbronnerstrasse and railway to connect the Leibfriedscher Garten to the Wartbergpark (8). A wide path runs up a hillside vineyard to two bridges spanning the Stresemannstrasse, thus making the link to the Höhenpark (9). Via the Kochenhof park extension (10), the new Landsbergerpark (11) and the Kräherwald (12) with the Bismarckturm, the Höhenpark will be connected to the Feurbacher Heide (F).