Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark

Across the tranquil waters of the Wuhle River, the Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark unfolds. This isn’t just any park. It’s a space woven from threads of history, resilience, and a yearning for peace. The Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark sits on land with a varied past. Once, this area was untouched, a natural valley carved by glacial meltwater. Then, in the 19th century, Berlin bought the land. They transformed it into sewage fields, a far cry from the tranquil green space you see today. The transformation of Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark began in the 1990s. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the area received mounds of earth excavated from the nearby Hellen Mitte development. This created a hill, a new vantage point overlooking the Wuhle valley. In 1994, a competition was held to design a park on this newly formed landscape. The winners, Bureau B+B from Amsterdam, envisioned a space that respected the natural contours of the land. The Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark opened in 1996. The park was initially called Rohrbruchpark. It was later renamed in 2003 in honor of Jelena Šantić, a Serbian peace activist and prima ballerina. Her presence at the park’s opening, despite her grave illness, underscores the park’s dedication to peace. A striking feature of the Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark is its large peace symbol, made of natural materials. This symbol, borrowed from the anti-nuclear movement of the 1950s, is visible even from the air. It serves as a powerful reminder of the park’s namesake and her dedication to peace. The park offers a variety of spaces for recreation and reflection. The lower valley area features the Hasenpfuhl, a pond formed in a water-filled construction pit, surrounded by meadows and groves of trees. Accessible paths wind throughout the park, ensuring everyone can enjoy its beauty. The hill provides areas for play and relaxation, including sports fields, a skate park, and even spaces for flying kites or sledding. From the hilltop, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Wuhle valley, the Gardens of the World, and the Kienberg with its cable car station. The Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark also houses an Arche-Park. This area provides a home for rare and native breeds of horses, cattle, and sheep, adding another layer of natural diversity to the park. As you explore the Jelena-Šantić-Friedenspark, remember its layered history. From neglected valley to sewage fields, then a blank canvas shaped by construction debris, it has finally blossomed into a haven of peace and recreation, a testament to human resilience and the enduring power of nature.