Experience

ANTWERP | Preliminary design of Ringpark ‘Cluster Centraal’ approved

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The municipal council of the City of Antwerp has approved the preliminary design of Cluster Centraal or Central Cluster, which is the largest sub-project of the Ringpark Groene Vesten. It connects eight sub-parks just outside the Antwerp Ring Road, from the Leeuwerikpark to the park on Rodekruislaan. 

A soundproof wall shields it from the noise of the Ring. A new Ringpad will provide a smooth and safe connection for cyclists and pedestrians around the city. After this preliminary design, the final design is now being started, and if everything goes smoothly, the works will start in 2026.

Cluster Centraal includes a zone just outside the Antwerp Ring, from the tunnel mouth of the Craeybeckx Tunnel in the south to the Zurenborg Bridge in the north. 

Intramuros (i.e. inside the former protective city walls), a noise wall at Wolvenberg, between the Ring and the railway, is also part of this preliminary design. The design for Cluster Centraal extends over a distance of 2.7 km and is approximately 20 hectares in size.

In addition to Cluster Centraal, there are two other projects within Ringpark Groene Vesten that are currently being developed. Namely the Next Generation Concrete Surface and Pomppark Zuid. For the first time, the Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) is currently cutting grooves into the road surface of the Ring, which will reduce noise. The design for Pomppark Zuid has been completed and work will start just after the summer.

The preliminary design of Cluster Centraal is a further elaboration of the landscape design of Ringpark Groene Vesten, and is the result of discussions during various workbenches, sessions, workshops and Ring Days.

Alderman for Mobility Koen Kennis (N-VA): “Everyone who participated in those sessions signed the quality of life projects of De Grote Verbinding (The Big Connection). These quality of life projects are becoming increasingly clear, and together with them the benefits they bring. What were once ideas in brainstorms are now being converted into concrete projects that offer solutions for the quality of life in the Ring Zone: less noise pollution, cleaner air and improved water management. We also provide safe bicycle and pedestrian connections here, in addition to ecological connections.”

Ring path for cyclists and pedestrians

The existing 4-metre wide Ring Cycle Path will be renovated. This new ‘Ringpad‘ will consist of a 6 metre wide cycle path and a 2 metre wide pedestrian path. The Ringpad always passes under the various bridges, creating smooth and safe connections between the different parts of the park. In addition to the sound wall and the Ring Path, ecological corridors will also be constructed in the underpasses that connect the various green structures and enable the migration of different animal species along the Ring.

Sponge for surrounding neighborhoods

Cluster Centraal wants to serve as a sponge for the surrounding neighborhoods. Wadis collect water from the neighborhoods and allow it to infiltrate. A clay layer is provided in the lowest parts of the wadis so that water will remain there permanently. This creates wet nature that contributes to the biodiversity of the park. All wadis are linked together into one water system.

Soundproof wall

A 2.7 km long soundproof wall, together with the Ringpad, will form the backbone of the new park. This will consist of gabions filled with lava rock, and will form an imposing facade of between 4 and 8 meters high along the Ring and park sides, which will separate the park from the Ring. This means that the park behind it will be protected from noise, and there will also be a positive impact on the air quality behind the wall. Raised green verges break the height and view of the sound wall, giving the feeling of cycling through a park.

At Wolvenberg, there will be an additional noise wall on the other side of the Ring, which will shield the nature reserve north of the Ring.

Merging into large, high-quality park space

The preliminary design of Cluster Centraal converts as much space as possible close to the Ring into public greenery. By constructing steep verges, many meters of parkland can be gained in various places. As much ‘residual space’ and unused public space as possible is converted into high-quality park space.

Cluster Central is a series of eight sub-parks along the Ring, each with their own identity and characteristics:

Hidden garden

In the southernmost part of Cluster Centraal, this green zone is located between two parts of Floraliënlaan. It is largely privately owned. Two scenarios have been developed. In the minimum scenario, the Ringpad connects to Floraliënlaan and the soundproof wall stops at the intersection of Coremansstraat and Floraliënlaan. In the maximum scenario, the noise wall and the Ringpad extend to the Craeybeckx Tunnel and this green zone is transformed into a high-quality green oasis.

Lark Park

The existing Leeuwerikenpark or Lark Park is already a large green space with many tall trees. The preliminary design provides additional wet zones with wadis. The current playground will be retained and supplemented with a nature play zone.

Grotesteenweg bicycle bridge

From the Leuwerikenpark, the Ringpad will dive under the Grotesteenweg, then rise back and cross the driveway to the Ring via a brand new bicycle bridge and then reenter the park zone through the sound wall. In the preliminary design, the bicycle bridge is conceived as a light construction with transparent walls.

Park Brialmont

At Park Brialmont, the Ringpad re-enters the Cluster Centraal from the bicycle bridge through the sound-absorbing wall. On the park side of the wall, the path connects again to the Grotesteenweg. The preliminary design provides decking paths through the Brilschans Nature Reserve, which also connect to the Ringpad.

Polygon Park

The Polygoonpark (Polygon Park) is a narrow zone on the Polygoonstraat and the business park on the Posthofbrug with greenery, allotments and a dog pasture. This zone is approximately at the same height as the Ring, which means that noise pollution is considerable and the soundproof wall here will be 8 metres high. The preliminary design proposes covering the wall with green verges to create a stronger park feeling. In addition to a new design for the allotments and the dog park, there is room for a local events zone, water and a play zone.

Bridge Park

This narrow strip is located between the Ring and the pillars of the Posthof Bridge and two railway bridges, which today causes a lot of noise pollution and makes it impossible to stay. The sound barrier will run under the bridges. This zone focuses more on passage, including an eco-passage, and an open water system with wadis.

Park Groenenhoek

Groenenhoek is the area between the railway bridges and the Borsbeek Bridge. Today it is mainly a green passage of the Ring Cycle Path with connections to the district and the Borsbeek Bridge. 

The fragmented ownership situation limits the possibilities. The Ringpad forms the junction here with the bicycle highway F11 (Antwerp – Lier). The existing playground and the playing field on Corneel Jaspersstraat will be retained. New wadis are being formed. The green strip at the back, between the buildings, is an existing forest that will be preserved. It is made accessible with paths and partly transformed into a play forest. ​

Red Cross Park

On Rodekruislaan, the current Ring Cycle Path forms a barrier between the neighborhood and the park, which sometimes causes conflicts between cyclists and park users. 

By placing the Ringpad close to the soundproof wall, these will disappear. The existing dog park will be closer to the neighborhood in the preliminary design. The current playground will also remain, albeit partly located differently. Finally, wadis with seating steps will make it possible to relax with a view of the park and the playground.

Intendant for the roofing of the Antwerp Ring Road Alexander D’Hooghe: “Ringpark Groene Vesten offers a leap forward for the quality of life, without obliging the neighborhood to a long difficult construction phase. The roadsides really become park spaces: much quieter, more pleasant, healthier, with paths, user areas and routes for pedestrians and cyclists. To this end, the Ring is being encapsulated and wrapped step by step, also in the south. We are very proud of this project.”

Alderman Koen Kennis adds: “It is also important to know that these works will make it possible to opt for maximum coverage of the Ring in the future.”

More information

AG Vespa, the autonomous municipal company for real estate and urban projects in Antwerp, coordinates Ringpark Groene Vesten, and therefore also Cluster Centraal. The design team is BUUR-Latz-Greisch-SWP in collaboration with Antea and Levuur.

After this preliminary design, the final design is now being started, and if everything goes smoothly, the works will start in 2026.

All information about Ringpark Groene Vesten can be found at www.degroteverbinding.be.

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