Once a haven for healing now a hub for the arts. Welcome to the Bürgerpark Oberföhring. This is a place where history and culture intertwine. It offers a unique experience for visitors.
The Bürgerpark Oberföhring has a fascinating past. It started as a brickyard in 1898. The brickyard operated until 1920. In 1939 and 1940, the military acquired the land. They paid 3 to 4 Reichsmark per square meter. The Wehrmacht built an air force hospital here. It had 300 beds in 27 barracks.
During the war, a bomb shelter was added in 1942. There was also an underground operating room. By the end of the war, it was Munich’s only fully functional hospital. This was because other facilities had been damaged by bombs.
After World War II, the hospital continued operating. It first served as an emergency hospital under American orders. In late 1945, it became the Städtisches Krankenhaus Oberföhring. The city of Munich took it over. Doctors Karl Dietrich Hepp and Simon Snopkowski led the hospital. It had 228 beds. The hospital remained open until the Klinikum Bogenhausen opened in 1983.
To fund the new hospital, the city planned to sell the old site. They hoped to earn 30 to 40 million marks. However, local clubs needed space for activities. They wanted a community center in the district. So they occupied two buildings in June 1984.
Erich Kiesl, the mayor, had been voted out in March 1984. Georg Kronawitter from the SPD took his place. He decided to let twelve barracks remain. The local clubs could use them until the city decided what to do with the land.
This temporary solution became permanent. The barracks and infrastructure are now very old. Repairing them is not practical. There is no money to tear them down and build new ones. In 2014, plans for a cultural center were presented. It is unclear if this will replace the Bürgerpark. Construction is not possible before 2017.
Today, the Bürgerpark Oberföhring is a cultural center. It supports many clubs with help from the city’s cultural department. The grounds are like a park. The barracks house various organizations.
Vereinsgemeinschaft 29 e.V. includes many of the groups in the Bürgerpark. There is a children’s theater here. Several traditional costume clubs call this place home. A music club, dance club, and carnival club also reside here. The German Life Saving Association has a local branch here.
An artist association with a gallery is also located here. Kafe Kult has hosted concerts since 1999. It replaced the Kreisjugendring München-Stadt’s cultural station. That station existed from 1989 to 1995. A Montessori kindergarten cares for about 38 children. A puppet theater, Kleines Theater im Pförtnerhaus, was one of the original founders.
In total, 17 clubs and groups use the Bürgerpark. They occupy 6,500 square meters of building space. The park itself covers 5.7 hectares.
The Bürgerpark Oberföhring stands as a testament. It shows the power of community and adaptation. From a brickyard to a hospital to a cultural hub, it reflects Munich’s ever-changing story. It is a place where the past is cherished. The future is shaped by the creativity and passion of its people. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and culture around you.