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 the completion of the first section of Mauerpark in 1994, the pressure of use on the green space has increased, so that the quality of the park has visibly suffered. In 2018, the Grün Berlin Stiftung was therefore given the task of further developing the original areas, taking into account the established uses, the surrounding urban space, but also the changes that have taken place in the general conditions, the climate and the requirements for sustainable green spaces. Based on intensive public participation, a feasibility study was developed for this purpose in 2019, in which existing usage profiles were reviewed and measures to improve the facility were developed. The planning process based on this began in spring 2020 and is being carried out in close dialogue with citizens. Construction work to qualify the first construction phase around the Moritzhof and Birkenwäldchen began in December 2022. In October 2023, work began on the second construction phase on the central lawn plateau. Planning for the other construction phases will continue in parallel. By 2027, the original areas of Mauerpark and the neighbouring areas, in particular Falkplatz, will be renovated and carefully developed on the basis of extensive public participation. In addition to an improved infrastructure with a revised network of paths, Mauerpark will also have more park furniture. Refurbished and extended play areas will also ensure a significantly higher quality of stay. Species-rich shade-giving and more climate-resilient new plantings will make the park fit for the future and a semi-automated irrigation system will ensure sustainable maintenance.

The upgrading of Mauerpark is being financed to the tune of 15.9 million euros from the federal and state funding programmes "Zukunft Stadtgrün" and "Nachhaltige Erneuerung".

Expansion of the old Mauerpark

Grün Berlin has extended Mauerpark on behalf of the state of Berlin by around 7.5 hectares to a total area of 14.5 hectares on the site of the former industrial estate in the direction of Brunnenviertel / Wedding. Also based on a design by Gustav Lange and in cooperation with the "Mauerpark-Fertigstellen" citizens' workshop and the responsible Senate and district administrations, additional spaces for quieter uses were created, forming a counterpoint to the lively central meadow area with amphitheatre. The course of the wall was also retraced, making the traces of the past visible and tangible for all users. The Mauerpark expansion has been available to residents since June 2020. Grün Berlin GmbH is responsible for the park management in the expansion area.

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.