Today, green public spaces are as much a part of a city's inventory as streets and houses. Despite this fundamental and largely undisputed observation, the daily commitment to preserving and consolidating inner-city green potential is an inherent task of the specialist administrations. Both savings targets and the fight against the temptations of other uses for green spaces that are not yet sealed characterise the everyday work of municipal green and environmental offices.

The importance of trees, shrubs, lawns, and meadows is well known: air quality, microclimate, biodiversity, and mental and physical health are just a few of the factors that underscore the enormous importance of green spaces. Recent surveys of residents in cities across Germany repeatedly underscore the high value placed on public green spaces. In addition, attractive and sufficient green spaces also increase property values, promote tourist appeal, and, as a soft location factor, influence the successful establishment of businesses.

Mainz has a total of 376 hectares of public green space. This includes parks, outdoor areas at public institutions such as schools and childcare facilities, as well as roadside greenery. There are also around 40,000 trees. If we want to maintain the welfare benefits of green spaces for the approximately 200,000 residents in the future, it will be necessary to strengthen, preserve, and expand green structures in light of the noticeable and inevitable climate change. A loss of open spaces will sooner or later turn against the residents and their well-being.

The city park, public park, ramparts, Hartenbergpark, Goetheplatz, and Grüne Brücke are not only visually enriching, but also zones of peace and relaxation—as well as refuges for birds, insects, and small mammals. The rapidly declining populations of house sparrows, swifts, bats, and wasps are also dependent on inner-city green structures in order to recover.

In summary, green spaces are good for Mainz, good for its citizens, and good for fauna and flora—there could be no better reasons for strengthening and preserving them.