How Copenhagen could transform one of its busiest roads into a park

Tivoli, the 175-year-old amusement park which is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic tourist attractions, on Monday presented two new projects which could transform the centre of the Danish capital.

Published: 17 June 2019 17:25 CEST

How Copenhagen could transform one of its busiest roads into a park

An artist's impression on how the section of Vesterbrogade in Copenhagen would look if turned into a park. Photo: Tivoli

Along with city planners Gehl, Tivoli presented on Monday a proposed 10,400 square-metre “recreational space” with only pedestrian and cyclist access in front of Tivoli and adjoining Copenhagen’s City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen).

That would mean closing the busy Vesterbrogade to traffic between the central roads H.C. Andersens Boulevard and Bernstorffsgade, near to City Hall Square and the Central Station.

Trees and grass would then be planted as part of a new park and recreational area which would replace the current heavy traffic in front of the entrance to Tivoli.

“Only through projects such as this can Tivoli stay relevant for future visitors. It has been proven time and time again, that depending on Tivoli’s historic charm is not enough. Change is in Tivoli’s DNA, it is our heritage, and Tivoli has always hired the best architects to make sure that new additions will stand the test of time, because we are building for the future,” Tivoli CEO Lars Liebst said in a press statement.

Following Monday’s presentation, the next step for Tivoli and Gehl is to make final the proposals for the project and submit them to Copenhagen Municipality. There will also be a period for public hearings.

“I never say 'no' to more trees in (Copenhagen),” Lord Mayor Frank Jensen told Ritzau on Monday.

“The first step is to look more closely at traffic and put together an overall plan for the whole area, so we can ensure people can still get to and from the centre of the city and that there won’t be extra traffic in the area,” Jensen added.

“I will be at the forefront of this together with the city planning municipal committee leader (Karina Vestergård Madsen),” the lord mayor said.

A plan for financing the project must also be agreed before any start date can be considered.

In addition to the new park, Tivoli also wants to build a new 70-metre tall, 18-storey hotel. The new hotel has been designed by lead architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group.

That project must also be approved by the municipality.

Member comments

Become a Member to leave a comment.

Bonuses on the new “CopenPay” scheme include a kayak or boat tour, a vegetarian meal, a museum ticket, or an e-bicycle ride — free of charge.

Why does the city want to give away these freebies?

“It is a core task for us to make travelling sustainable. And we will only succeed if we bridge the large gap between the visitors’ desire to act sustainably and their actual behaviour”, tourism board CEO Mikkel Aaro-Hansen said.

The public’s reaction has been “overwhelmingly positive”, although some disappointed visitors “would have liked the scheme to be in place during their stay,” Copenhagen tourism office communications director Rikke Holm Petersen told news agency AFP.

Although the tourist board says it wants the scheme to change behaviour to a more eco-friendly approach, it admits the initiative alone cannot dent the environmental impact of tourism.

More than 100,000 passengers flew into Copenhagen in June, resulting in a much higher carbon footprint than bus or train travel, according to airport data.

“The environmental burden of transportation to and from Copenhagen is much more significant than that of local transportation,” said tourism website VisitCopenhagen.

“We have chosen to limit our advertising efforts to Copenhagen Airport, the central station, and within the city itself, rather than conducting marketing campaigns abroad,” Petersen said.

The tourism office will consider extending the scheme beyond the city — perhaps even abroad — if it proves successful.

“We hope to reintroduce CopenPay as a year-round, green payment experience within the economy and broaden the concept to other parts of Denmark and the rest of the world,” according to the VisitCopenhagen site.