Before the Bieberer Berg the gods placed the Buchhügel. This elevation serves as both a landmark and a place for recreation. But that’s not all. It also houses the Wetterpark, the fire department, and the police headquarters.
The Buchhügel lies between the Tempelsee district and the main ring road. It is an important project for Offenbach’s open space planning. The attractive Wetterpark lies nearby. The Buchhügel has been gradually transformed. This created a lot of public green space with high recreational value.
Since the turn of the millennium, the grounds of an old municipal nursery have become increasingly accessible to the public. A public path system was created. Green spaces, recreational areas and attractions like a children’s and youth farm were added. These improvements have increased the Buchhügel’s appeal.
The valley path at the foot of the hill is particularly significant. Landscape planners uncovered the ditch. They designed it to be close to nature. It is recognizable again as a meadow stream. For many years, the watercourse ran parallel to the path. However, it was within a small garden complex. The new footpath system will be completed soon. A hilltop path is planned. This will open up more public green spaces. Its location on the heights of the Buchhügel will offer beautiful views.
The Freiraumentwicklungskonzept strengthens existing potential of the southern Buchhügel. It does so through planning goals and measures. The Buchhügelgraben will be relocated. A natural water system will be developed. It will consist of the Buchhügelgraben and Hainbach with a spacious floodplain. Inner-city green spaces in Hainbachtal, Puteauxpromenade and Amerikawald will be connected. This will be achieved through native woody structures. They will be appropriate for the location.
A network of cycle and footpaths will be developed. It will connect to the “Green Ring from Main to Main”. This is part of the “Regional Park Route”. It will also connect to the Industriebahnweg, the Puteauxpromenade and the path network in the Amerikawald. The concept secures recreational, commercial and agricultural use. It concentrates them spatially. The Buchhügel will be integrated into the landscape. This will be done by creating a clear town boundary north of Buchhügelallee. Traffic relations on the Buchhügel will be reorganized. Through traffic will be restricted.
The goals of the Freiraumentwicklungskonzept are gradually being implemented. This happens through the processing of development plans. The relocation of the Buchhügelgraben was successfully implemented. It was moved from the small gardens to the open floodplain of the Buchhügel. Its natural design includes local plants. The Hainbach will be redesigned in a natural way. This will complete the renatured water system.
The “Wetterpark” has been established and expanded. Appealing objects for observing weather phenomena were added. These objects explain and help understand the weather. This strengthens the attractiveness of the Buchhügel recreation area.
A cycle and footpath now accompanies the ditch. It runs from Rheinstraße to Obere Grenzstraße. Individual rest areas were created. The path is part of the “Green Ring from Main to Main”. Gardeners from the KGV Odenwaldring were relocated. They moved from the former Lohwald area to the Buchhügel. A public cycle and footpath runs from the animal shelter to Buchhügelallee. Private gardens border this path. The school garden of the Käthe-Kollwitz-School is also adjacent. It offers practical and educational learning opportunities.
In June 2020, around 9500 people lived in this district. The Buchhügel is centrally located in Offenbach. To the north, bordered by the Anlagenring, lies Lindenfeld. The Musikerviertel and Lauterborn border to the west. The Carl-Ulrich-Siedlung is also to the west. Tempelsee lies to the south. Bieberer Berg and a short section of Offenbach-Ost are to the east.
The Bundesstraße 43 runs through Buchhügel from the west. It leaves the district in a north-easterly direction. This connects the district to the long-distance road network. The Industriebahn Offenbach used to run through Buchhügel. It was last used in 1993. The facility has been almost completely dismantled. In 1996, the route was converted into a fast and safe connection for cyclists. It is part of the Route for Industrial Culture in Offenbach.