The arch bridge connects the footpath leading from the former cycle track into the Volksgarten with the island in the Volksgartenweiher.
The Volksgarten is a park surrounded by tall trees with a pond and island. It is a donation of the Gladbacher industrialist Peter Krall (1826-1893) to the citizenship. Peter Krall seems to have thought the park, even without an explicit statement in his will, "... as a recreational area for the working population and as a refuge from the gray mixed zones of the city." In other words, there is a social reformer intent. " (Löhr, 2003: 135f.)
It is located east of the center of Mönchengladbach. It is bordered to the south by Hardterbroich, to the west by Pesch and to the north by Lürrip. In the east it passes into the NSG Bungtwald. The eastern part of the Volksgarten flows through the Bungtbach. Carl-Diem-Sraße, Bungtstraße and Peter-Krall-Strasse enclose the core area of the Volksgarten. Two sports fields, a fairground and the 1925 northeast of the Volksgarten built Volksbad complement the recreation. Furthermore, it includes walking paths and surrounded by lawns Volksgartenweiher, on which you can ride with rowing boats. An arch bridge built in 1904, also called the bird bridge, leads to an island in the pond.
It is an arch bridge in full wall construction. A total of four bow binders lying parallel next to each other span the pond. The bow ties are interconnected by cross members and diagonal bars. Dominant in the appearance of the two outer binder in the foreground. These binders are conspicuously shaped with slimmer web height in the apex and uniformly increasing construction height of the bow to the abutments and abutments. The bow ties are assembled from several sections with riveted joints. Attached to the two outer arch trims is a parapet railing made of steel profiles with geometric and floral ornamental forms. Particularly elaborate is a double-winged gate, with the bridge and pond Weiher can be locked. The softly curved outline of the symmetrically designed double gate with the two-sided anti-climbing protection and details of the design draw attention to the world of ideas of Art Nouveau.
The bird bridge needs a short-term renovation. The steel elements are to be de-rusted and protected against progressive corrosion. The plank covering, which was renewed about 15 years ago, has rotted and needs to be replaced.
The Vogelbrücke in Volkspark Mönchengladbach is an early example of a full-bridge arched bridge, the construction of bridge construction and the history of iron and steel constructions are important for human history. As an element of a locally significant park and as an example of an iron and steel construction in a historic park, the bridge is also significant for the history of garden architecture. The preservation of the object is in the public interest for artistic and scientific, especially architectural and engineering historical reasons.