Introduction
Urban spaces are not only places of economic activity, but also central living spaces for social encounters, cultural exchange, and community interaction. Equal access to leisure and cultural activities plays a crucial role in promoting social participation, enhancing quality of life, and fostering a society that strives for equality.
As part of the Urban Mapping seminar, this project focuses on recording and presenting free and low-cost leisure, cultural, and sports activities, as well as religious institutions and green spaces, in the Buckau and Neue Neustadt districts of Magdeburg. This includes all activities that cost up to €15 per month, as this would be approximately 25% of the total standard requirement for education and participation (from welfare) for young people under the age of 18.
This project aims to highlight existing activities in both districts, identify potential gaps in provision, and raise awareness of available opportunities. Through cartographic representation, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of urban structures and offer small insights for more inclusive urban development.
Why Buckau and Neue Neustadt?
The reasons for selecting these two districts are outlined in the district report. It was published in 2021 and analyzes districts according to various criteria, allowing for a more detailed description of their development needs in comparison to other districts.
Neue Neustadt and Buckau ranked 5th and 11th, respectively. At the same time, being number one means having the worst score. Both, therefore, have a comparatively high need for development, but Neue Neustadt even more so than Buckau. Both are marked in orange and can thus be classified as relatively precarious districts in socio-economic terms – Neue Neustadt is the first district to be marked in orange, Buckau the last (see image, as of 2021). Neighborhoods marked in red have even greater development needs, while those marked in yellow and then green have fewer.
With our project, we want to examine the differences in low-cost and free offerings within this group of neighborhoods.
Buckau vs. Neue Neustadt
A comparison between Buckau and Neue Neustadt reveals clear differences in terms of social infrastructure and leisure opportunities for children and young people. While Buckau has well-connected and well-known facilities such as the “Hot Alte Bude” youth club, Neue Neustadt lacks not only such facilities but also visibility. Many young people in Neue Neustadt are unaware of the existing facilities or do not use them because they are difficult to reach or not sufficiently visible. It is particularly striking that young people from Neue Neustadt are forced to cross district boundaries to access suitable services, which makes participation more difficult and reinforces existing inequalities. The comparison highlights the importance of socially oriented, low-threshold, and networked social work, which not only provides services but also actively mediates and accompanies them. Even the best services fail to have an impact if access to them is limited. For social work, this means that low-threshold access must be provided both spatially and in terms of communication. The results illustrate that social work in the neighborhood is closely linked to outreach work, networking, and transparency. It is not enough for services to exist—they must also be “brought” to the target groups. It is essential to involve young people in this process: What do they really need? Where do they spend their time? A neighborhood analysis provides a crucial foundation for this. Our work shows that social work in the district is more than just “making offers”: it means creating access, breaking down barriers, making resources visible, and strengthening networks.
This is the only way to create equal opportunities for and with young people in both neighborhoods. The findings indicate that more targeted support is required in Neue Neustadt to facilitate participation, whereas Buckau already offers a solid foundation that can be further developed and strengthened.