Meerbusch
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Missouri Place in Lank is now remodeled
Politicians, active citizens and administration have officially handed over the new Missouri Square to its purpose.
Photo: RP/City of Meerbusch
Meerbusch After the landmark tree fell in a storm, the city upgraded the entire square. The name Missouri-Platz is reminiscent of Lank’s connection with the US state, to which many Meerbusch people emigrated in the 19th century.
Perennial beds, benches and of course a new tree – Missouri Square in the Lank-Latum pedestrian zone has been upgraded. The Meerbusch city administration, the Heimatkreis Lank and the Kulturstammtisch Lank-Latum have now officially handed over the newly designed square to its intended purpose as part of a small festival for the citizens.
After a squall knocked over the robinia on the main street that provided shade and had shaped the square for years, the idea came up to plant a new large tree and make the entire square greener and create opportunities to linger.
“However, the space available here is limited and presented us with challenges. When designing it, we had to take the existing bicycle parking brackets into account. In addition, the fire brigade still has to get past the beds with their vehicles,” explains Michael Betsch, head of the city administration’s green space service department, explaining the situation. At the same time, in addition to the tree and the beds, three benches were to be installed on the square. “I think we have now found a good solution. The benches are arranged in a triangle so that you can sit in the sun at any time of the day – or, if you like, in the shade,” Betsch continues.
A sweetgum tree was planted to match the eponymous square. This tree species is native to the US state of Missouri and is also considered to be resistant to climatic influences.
“We are very pleased that the Missouri-Platz has received such an upgrade,” adds Franz Jürgens, Chairman of the Lank homeland district. Missouri Square commemorates the more than 330 men, women and children who left their Lank-Latum homeland in economic need between 1835 and 1865 to seek their fortune and build a new life in the state of Missouri. A notice board from the local district commemorates this historical event. Connections to the descendants of the emigrants exist to this day, mutual visits take place alternately.