Kaiserslautern American
Page 18
Garages, balconies, rolladens coming to Baumholder housing
July 17, 2020
Our favorite amusement parks in Germany, pt. 1
An illustration shows the design plan for garages in Baumholder Military Community housing areas. U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz submitted garage, balcony and rolladen addition projects for approval and funding in 2020. Courtesy graphic
by Erinn Burgess U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Public Affairs ‘Tis the fiscal season when Army Family Housing master plans are submitted to the Department of the Army for approval, and three things are at the forefront for Baumholder Military Community: garages, balconies and rolladens. These quality-of-life improvements stem directly from resident feedback in the 2019 housing survey conducted at U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz. “These projects went in front of Congress for funding,” said Jim Gillis, Baumholder Housing deputy chief. “The design and concepts are being worked right now — if not done, they’re pretty close to being done.” Once complete, the next step is to put the package out for contracting bids. The garage addition program is designed to provide overhead covered parking and a separate garage unit to every family living on post in Baumholder. The goal is for garages to be added at the same time a building is right-sized – which means taking a building with 24 apartments and converting it to 16 larger apartments and adding an elevator, Gillis said. This process takes about two years to complete. “We’ll be the first in Europe Army Housing to have this garage addition program,” Gillis said. “Apartments will be bigger, and have a garage!” At the beginning of July, 277 balcony projects for Baumholder were sent to the Army for approval and funding. Gillis said residents may see balconies go in on Smith Barracks in the near future because some previously approved projects include balcony additions, but the remaining 277 still have to go to contracting for bids and are expected tentatively by late 2022. If an apartment doesn’t have a
balcony, it’ll have a loggia — basically a balcony but inside the living room, Gillis said. Last but not least — rolladens will be installed on windows in all apartments. “I’m really happy to see the rolladens happen,” Gillis said. “This will make a big difference in cooling the homes in summer.” He said rolladens became the No. 1 priority after summer 2019 when record breaking temperatures scorched Rheinland-Pfalz. Gillis said funding for rolladens is expected in 2021, which means work is expected to be completed in 2023. In the meantime, the garrison has authorized the purchase of personal air conditioning units in accordance with USAG RP Command Policy Letter No. 33. Although the ball is rolling on improvements, it will be a couple years before residents see construction efforts due to the lengthy planning, programming, budgeting and execution process used by the Department of Defense to ensure tax dollars are spent appropriately and budgeted for. “It’s not as easy as going to Home Depot and loading up the truck,” Gillis joked. Quality housing for Soldiers and their families continues to be the Army’s top “Quality of Life” priority, and Army leaders are committed to further improving housing conditions. “We are absolutely committed to providing safe and secure housing on every installation, and making every installation an installation of choice for our Soldiers and families,” said Gen. Gus Perna, Army Materiel Command commander and top officer in charge of Army Family Housing. “We appreciate your patience and understanding,” Gillis said to Baumholder residents. “Please, after you leave, plan on coming back here. You’ll be amazed at the way this place has changed.”
by MilitaryinGermany.com It’s the perfect time to take the family on a road trip to check out Germany’s amusement parks. From an afternoon spent with Shrek to an exuberating dive on a roller coaster, these fantasy worlds will satisfy thrill-seekers of all ages. Part 1: Theme Parks in Western Germany Movie Park Germany At the Movie Park Germany in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, visitors can explore Bikini Bottom, take a wild water ride with Dora the Explorer and meet SpongeBob for an afternoon of fishing. This park, in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, features characters from ”Ice Age” and” Shrek,” as well as from other movies and television shows. In the Wild West section of the park, saloons and barber shops create a replica of a Hollywood movie set. The park also includes several shows, such as the “Shadows of
Darkness -The Van Helsing Show” and “Back to the Movies,” where visitors can travel back in time to experience movie highlights of the past decade. Entrance prices run from €29 for children ages 4-11 and €35 for adults.
slide will have suspension bridges, caves and an approximately 25-foot high tower. Entry prices are €9 for ages 3-15, €10 for 16 and older and free for children under 3.
Start your hollywood adventure at www.movieparkgermany.de
Phantasialand The theme park in Brühl (12 miles south of Cologne) attracts approximately 1.75 million visitors annually. Park goers can have limitless fun, action, adventure, excitement and great entertainment at Phantasialand. The park has been steadily adding new and exciting rides since 2007. In 2010 five rides were added, in 2011 two new rides were added and in 2013 a new flume log ride was built. The park is divided into six theme areas: Fantasy, Deep in Africa, Berlin, Mystery, Mexico and China Town. Passengers can have a cosmic experience in the darkened enclosed roller coaster ride Temple of the Night Hawk, which
Freizeitpark Schloß Beck In Bottrop, one hour north of Dusseldorf, is the Castle Beck in which the surrounding area was transformed into a theme park in 1960. The theme park has many moving figures, a scary basement, a children’s playground, a family roller coaster, go carts, kiddie rides, pedal boats, rowing boats, bumping cars, cable cars, a giant slide, trampolines and so much more. Starting in June there will be more room to climb, slide, hide and run around. The new super
www.schloss-beck.de
