Where once Berliners laid their loved ones to rest now stands Anita-Berber-Park. This tranquil green space in Neukölln holds a fascinating history. It wasn’t always a park.
Before the park existed there was a cemetery. The St Thomas Cemetery specifically. The rapidly growing Luisenstadt in the mid-19th century needed more burial space. Cemeteries filled quickly. So in 1865 churches bought land for new cemeteries. Even the new St Thomas Cemetery east of Hermannstrasse was full by 1872. A new section west of Hermannstrasse was created. Our namesake Anita Berber was buried there in 1928.
The nearby Tempelhof Airport dramatically altered the cemetery’s destiny. After World War II local residents cut down trees. A temporary runway lighting system was built right on the graves in 1948. Imagine the scene during the Berlin Airlift. The central avenue of plane trees remained. So did the 1898 wall along Hermannstrasse. Stories tell of a carnival-like atmosphere then. People are said to have frolicked above the graves. Hoping that Rosinenbomber would drop supplies. Steel masts were replaced with concrete ones in 1961-62. They stood until the airport closed in 2008. The wall and masts are now protected monuments. No more burials took place after the 1980s. Graves were gradually leveled. The cemetery closed in 2012.
In 2015 Neukölln started a citizen participation process. The aim was to carefully develop the green area. Funds meant for A100 motorway compensation were used. The project cost around two million euros. This included 354000 euros for the landscape architect. A further 66000 euros was spent on park furniture. The redesigned park opened to the public on July 10 2017.
The old trees with their hollows and dead wood were preserved. A variety of trees existed thanks to its past as a cemetery. New grass and meadows were created. Many places to sit were added. A dog run was also built. Three new entrances were made at Leinestrasse. These include stairs and a ramp. Twenty bird species including nightingales were recorded in 2017. Anita-Berber-Park today is a vibrant testament to Berlin’s layered past. A place where history and nature intertwine. A fitting tribute to the life and legacy of Anita Berber herself.