In Oldenburg (Germany), the opening of a new leisure area turned a simple park into an opportunity for citizen participation. During the “Name Vote” initiative, citizens were invited to help name the area as part of its official opening on August 15th 2025. Around 140 suggestions were collected that day, and five finalists are now up for a city-wide digital vote! This article outlines how this public space was used to foster citizen engagement, and how the combination of offline and online tools is helping Oldenburg to get in touch with its residents.
In Oldenburg, significant effort is being invested in lowering the threshold for public activities in order to engage a diverse range of residents, especially those who might not be able to attend more intensive events. Following the success of their creative Oldenburg Beermats initiative (see our previous article), the city has now launched a new project: a leisure area in the heart of the city.
Located near 91er Straße, this space was designed not only as a meeting place but also as a platform for public participation. The Name Vote initiative demonstrates how a simple leisure area can be transformed into a tool for engagement.
From Opening Event to City-Wide Vote
At the official opening of the leisure area on August 15th, citizens and city staff gathered to discover and celebrate the new space. But this wasn’t a typical opening ceremony: visitors were invited to submit suggestions for the park’s name. A display board and suggestion box were set up on-site to encourage everyone to participate. In total, about 140 name proposals were collected! This simple yet efficient addition to the event enabled citizens to feel included in the city’s decision-making process, building both trust and a sense of community.
It feels great to be part of shaping something new in the middle of the city. I suggested a name that connects both the history of the site and the community spirit it is developing these days. Knowing that our ideas are actually taken into account makes this place feel like it belongs to all of us.
What Makes a Good Name? Jury Criteria and Finalists
A jury of diverse representatives from culture, tourism, business, city marketing, administration, and civil society reviewed the suggestions. Their task was to select five finalists based on specific criteria, including:
- A local connection to Oldenburg or the area’s history
- Easy pronunciation and spelling
- A positive, neutral message
- No personal references
- Strong identification potential for broad community appeal
The final five names selected were: Elsterpark, Heiligengeistpark, OldenWiese, Oldi, and Stadtkuhle. These are now featured on the city’s digital participation platform, where residents can vote for their favorite until the end of September! The winning name will then be displayed directly at the area on a signpost.
Blending formats and building trust
This event, though small-scale, highlighted several key lessons. First, it showed how low-barrier participation formats can engage a broad audience, even attracting the attention of local media. Second, it brought citizens closer to public servants, as they saw their opinion being valued and moved into a public decision-making process. Many also engaged directly with the staff present at the event to share their ideas for the future of the area and the city. And finally, it enabled the city to increase the visibility of their digital platform by linking it to an accessible and fun activity! This also ensured a broader reach of the initiative, participating to the event’s success.
This simple yet efficient project demonstrates how in-person engagement and digital tools can be combined for increased success, and how involving citizens even on a small scale can help build greater trust and connection to the city.
To read Oldenburg’s full report on the event, download the document below!
