At the start of October, the construction work on Rüdersdorf’s market square was finally completed. To mark the occasion, a market festival was held on 6 October 2009, starting at 9 am. Over 20 stalls selling wickerwork, candyfloss and much more, as well as a bouncy castle and a children’s carousel, invited visitors to play and linger. There was also plenty to see and hear: a circus performance featuring a clown on stilts, giant soap bubbles and the Rüdersdorf Mountain Band in traditional costume. Over 1,500 people had come to attend the event. The highlight was the ceremonial unveiling of the new fountain by Mayor André Schaller, who first addressed the large crowd of visitors. The redevelopment of the market square had cost a total of €700,000 since work began 6.5 months ago – although the local council received financial support from the state and federal governments amounting to two-thirds of the total sum. The new market square is larger than the old one; other new features include the paving, the fountain, a fence, benches and green spaces. In the near future, a few more elements will be added to the market square – 12 trees will be planted, litter bins installed and toilet blocks erected. The bus stops, which were previously located on the market square, have now been moved next to the Chau restaurant and on Puschkinstraße, opposite House II. Mayor André Schaller said that the issue of there now being fewer parking spaces available on the market square is something they intend to address in the future. The mayor also expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in making the “New Market Square” project a reality: in particular, the local residents, business owners around the market square, the local councillors, colleagues from the Public Order and Building Authority, as well as the municipal works department and the clothing bank.
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