Development
From no man's land to one of Berlin's favourite spots
The site of today's Mauerpark was used in many different ways in the past: as a parade ground, as a goods station and, from 1961 to 1989, as part of the border strip around the Berlin Wall. To the west was a colourful commercial area on the edge of the city at the time, to the east the death strip.
Grün Berlin has been supporting the development of the Mauerpark since the early 1990s. The initial aim was to establish the Mauerpark on the former border strip between East and West Berlin. Based on the design by landscape architect Professor Gustav Lange and not least thanks to the commitment of many citizens from the surrounding neighbourhoods and with funding from the Allianz Environmental Foundation, parts of the former border strip were developed into today's Mauerpark. The first part, consisting of the central meadow, the sun hill at the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sports Park and the birch grove, was completed in 1994. In the following years, the park was extended to the north. The Moritzhof youth farm, which is now an important part of Mauerpark's cultural programme, was established there.
Qualification of the original Mauerpark
Since its opening in 1994, Mauerpark has undergone rapid development. Rising visitor numbers, new forms of use and a growing need for greenery make it necessary to carefully develop the existing park. Grün Berlin has been taking on this task since 2018 - together with the district and local residents.
A revised network of paths, new furniture, additional play facilities and a partially automated irrigation system ensure greater comfort and lower maintenance costs. Around 16 million euros from the ‘Zukunft Stadtgrün’ programme will secure funding until 2027.
The measures not only strengthen the infrastructure, but also preserve the open, creative character of the park. Music, art and neighbourliness will remain an integral part - as will ecological aspects: new, climate-resilient planting, unsealing and biodiversity will make the park fit for the future.
Expansion with vision
A new chapter was opened for Mauerpark in 2020 with the expansion of 7.5 hectares. The additional area has created urgently needed open space in the Brunnenviertel neighbourhood - and connects Wedding and Prenzlauer Berg in a new way.
The planning was developed in cooperation with the ‘Bürgerwerkstatt Mauerpark-Fertigstellen’ and is based on a design by Prof. Gustav Lange. The results: low-maintenance, sustainable in the long term, economically well thought-out and socially effective.
The new areas deliberately emphasise quieter uses. Lawns, play and garden areas offer space for encounters, exercise and self-design. At the same time, design elements such as the reconstructed course of the wall and the exhibition of historical artefacts are reminders of the history of the site.
Robust green structures, shady trees and permeable surfaces ensure resilience - even under changing climatic conditions.
Historical finds: vehicle barrier and escape tunnel
As part of construction work by Berliner Wasserbetriebe, remains of the former border fortifications between East and West Berlin were found at the entrance to Mauerpark on Eberswalder Straße in early 2018: A vehicle barrier, which was intended to prevent escape from the former GDR by car or lorry, and the entrance to an escape tunnel. Following on from the Berlin Wall Memorial, an exhibition of the finds was designed on the newly created forecourt between Schwedter Strasse and the entrance to the "Mauersegler" beer garden. The plans for the extension of the Mauerpark were revised once again for this purpose. The exhibition has been open to all visitors since 9 November 2020.
