Wondering why this small park in Berlin is named after someone you have likely never heard of? This is the Zamenhofpark. It is a green space with a fascinating story. It honors Ludwig L. Zamenhof. He was the creator of Esperanto. Esperanto is an international language. The park officially received its name on May 17, 2009. The dedication happened on July 23, 2009.
Before its dedication to Zamenhof, locals called it Rosenfelder Platz. This was due to its proximity to Rosenfelder Strasse. The Zamenhofpark’s location has an interesting history. The Friedrichsfelde-Lichtenberger Grenzgraben once ran through it. This ditch served as a natural boundary. Today, the water flows underground. It is now a rainwater canal. It runs under Rosenfelder Strasse. Then, it goes under Einbecker Strasse. Finally, it continues under Marie-Curie-Allee towards Rummelsburger See.
Even before its official naming, the area was a park. A 1977 plan shows that the area was gardened in the 1970s. A large lawn sat in the middle. Trees and shrubs bordered the park on three sides. Low walls partially framed these plantings. These walls also served as seating along Einbecker Strasse. Roses bloomed here including the “Rosenmarchen” and “Erfurt” varieties.
From 1994 to 1996, the district green space office redesigned the park. They integrated existing greenery into a new rectangular path system. Gardeners created a sunken garden in the center of the lawn. A circular flower bed sat in the middle. Eight benches surrounded it. Red and yellow roses bordered the circle. A playground located in the southern part of the park was enlarged. It was renovated in 2000. It was repaired again in 2008. New play equipment was added between 2014 and 2015.
In 2008, the Esperanto League Berlin held an event in the unnamed park. It commemorated Zamenhof’s visit to Berlin 100 years earlier in 1908. They read a letter to the district mayor Christina Emmrich. The letter suggested naming the park after Zamenhof. A streetcar ride followed. It went to the Polish Cultural Institute. There, the book “The Zamenhof Street” was presented.
The Lichtenberg district assembly officially named the park. The naming occurred on November 20, 2008. The official dedication was delayed. It was scheduled for Zamenhof’s 150th birthday year. It also preceded the Esperanto World Congress in his birthplace, Bialystok. Zamenhof’s grandson, Louis-Christophe Zaleski-Zamenhof, could not attend. He sent a greeting. Rudolf Fischer, head of the German Esperanto Association, led the ceremony. He spoke about Zamenhof’s life. He also described the family’s suffering during the Nazi era. Piotr Golema, from the Polish Embassy, and Mayor Emmrich unveiled the nameplate. In 2011, the nameplate was replaced. Vandalism had destroyed the original.
Near the park, the German Esperanto Association opened its office. It was located at Einbecker Strasse 36. The German Esperanto Youth moved into the same building in 2003. Later, the Esperanto League Berlin, the German Esperanto Archive, and the Berlin Esperanto Library joined. This building became known as the Esperanto House. This inspired the idea to name the park after Zamenhof.
In 2019, the Esperanto League Berlin and the Lichtenberg Museum celebrated the Zamenhofpark’s tenth anniversary. They held an exhibition. It took place at the Lichtenberg City Hall. A music and literature event was organized in Esperanto and German. An information display case was set up. It shared the park’s history. It also provided details about Zamenhof and the Esperanto language.
So, as you stroll through the Zamenhofpark, remember its namesake. Consider his vision. He sought to create a world where people could communicate. They could understand each other. This small park stands as a testament to that dream.