Munich’s Old Town to Get 150 New Trees to Combat Heat and Enhance Urban Environment
Munich, April 15 – The City Council’s Construction Committee has approved a plan for the Department of Construction to progressively implement 150 new tree locations in Munich’s Old Town. This initiative, partly funded by donations from the “Schatten Spenden” (Donate Shade) campaign, aims to address the challenges of rising temperatures and enhance the overall quality of life in the city center.
Mayor Dominik Krause emphasized the importance of this project, stating, “It must be our goal that the 28 million people who come to the pedestrian zone every year can do so comfortably, even in high summer temperatures. More greenery through more trees in suitable places is the most effective answer to provide sufficient shade and cooling on an increasing number of hot days. Tree plantings are an investment in health protection, quality of life, and the economic location. Retail and gastronomy will directly benefit if the city center remains an attractive destination for everyone throughout the year. Tree plantings as an investment in climate adaptation pay off for generations. Our thanks go to all large and small donors who see it the same way. Every donation helps Munich plant many new trees in the heart of our city despite financially difficult times.”
Significant Investment in a Greener City
Dr.-Ing. Jeanne-Marie Ehbauer, Head of the Department of Construction, highlighted the complexities of the project. “New, climate-resilient trees in intensively used and previously sealed locations are a major challenge – especially in Munich’s city center, where we have extraordinary conditions. Every new tree needs enough underground space to develop strong roots. In addition, no other pedestrian zone in Germany is so heavily frequented. Every year, millions of passers-by and tens of thousands of trucks move over the pavement. Only with a structural protection of the root areas designed for these enormous loads do new trees in the Old Town have good long-term development opportunities. The 150 new trees for Munich’s Old Town are a worthwhile investment in the pedestrian zone and an indispensable building block in adapting the city center to increasingly extreme climatic conditions.”
The total cost for creating a tree pit in the paved pedestrian zone, partly with special coverings, includes expenses for road construction (breaking up, earthworks including disposal of contaminated sites, substrate installation, surface restoration), protective measures for adjacent utility lines, necessary root protection, procurement of already large trees, tree planting, and five years of development care, as well as ancillary costs (planning, site setup, site security, deliveries, etc.). The structural substructures for protection against vehicles, in particular, involve high construction costs. However, these are absolutely necessary given the uniquely high volume of delivery traffic and public traffic in Munich’s pedestrian zone compared to other large German cities, to prevent the pavement above the sensitive roots of the new trees from being pressed in by trucks, to maintain accessibility, and to avoid dangerous tripping hazards.
Funding and Implementation Timeline
The financing for the tree plantings will come from the reallocation of subsidies into the city’s tree planting budget. The KfW promotional bank and the Government of Upper Bavaria have already pledged funding for the project. Additionally, the state capital will utilize approximately 170,000 Euros in donations received through the “Schatten Spenden” campaign for the tree plantings. Further information on the ongoing fundraising campaign for the planned tree plantings in the Old Town can be found at www.schatten-spenden-muenchen.de.
In 2024, the City Council tasked the Department of Construction with conducting a detailed study on potential new tree locations for the pedestrian zone. This study revealed that tree locations require diverse solutions, such as the use of technical root protection in the form of root bridges or root chamber systems. Each location must be coordinated with various stakeholders, including the fire department, utility providers, ongoing construction sites, the major construction site for the 2nd S-Bahn main line, outdoor seating areas, and businesses. Consequently, the Department of Construction will implement individual new tree locations gradually, with the planting of the first trees in Sendlinger Straße expected to begin in autumn 2026.
The remaining tree pits will be gradually realized by the Department of Construction in the coming years. The work will be coordinated with dependencies such as outdoor seating areas, events like the Christmas market, and other construction measures to minimize disruptions in the pedestrian zone. The actual planting of the trees usually takes place between October and March.
Accessibility and Waste Management Improvements
The Old Town-Lehel District Committee, the Lower Monument Protection Authority, the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, and the City Conservator have all approved the overall concept for greening the pedestrian zone.
In addition, a decision was made to redesign the tactile paving system. The Department of Construction is currently developing a concept for this, which aims to significantly improve barrier-free orientation for blind and visually impaired people. Alongside examining the location of the tactile paving system, the Department of Construction is currently testing and evaluating construction options, particularly alternatives to the costly removal and reinstallation of pavement or slabs. Upon completion, the Department of Construction will present the results and a proposal for further action to the City Council.
Furthermore, the Department of Construction can leverage synergy effects within the framework of greening the pedestrian zone to make waste disposal more efficient and further enhance the quality of stay in the pedestrian zone. In Sendlinger Straße, the Department of Construction is piloting underground waste containers. These hold ten times the capacity of the previously largest standalone containers and only need to be emptied once a day.
Editors’ note: More information can be found in the City Council resolution of April 14, 2026 (Meeting document No. 20-26 / V 18604).
Source: City of Munich, Department of Construction, “Schatten Spenden” Campaign
