Remember Johannes Prassek’s name. This park carries his legacy. Johannes-Prassek-Park is a green space in Hamburg’s Barmbek-Süd district.
The Johannes-Prassek-Park covers about two hectares. It sits on the site of a former gas plant. The Johannes-Prassek-Park creates a green connection. It links Barmbek-Süd to Hamburg’s Stadtpark.
The Johannes-Prassek-Park is bordered by the Osterbek Canal to the north. Alster City office complex is to the east. Weidestraße is to the south. Some commercial buildings are to the west of Johannes-Prassek-Park.
You can enter the Johannes-Prassek-Park from Weidestraße in the south. You can also enter from the car-free Osterbekstraße in the north. The Heinz-Gärtner-Brücke connects the Johannes-Prassek-Park to Winterhude’s Jarrestadt. This bridge opened in 2013. A Stadtrad Hamburg station is at the corner of Weidestraße.
The Johannes-Prassek-Park stretches about 300 meters north to south. It is over 100 meters wide in the north. The Johannes-Prassek-Park narrows to less than 30 meters at the southern end. A four-meter-wide path runs through the park. It serves as the main axis.
In the southern part, the Johannes-Prassek-Park features a plaza-like structure. Several small play and sports areas are in the middle. A large lawn with trees is at the northern end.
Johannes-Prassek-Park was inaugurated in June 2011. It is named after Johannes Prassek. He was one of the four Lübeck martyrs. Johannes Prassek was born in Barmbek in 1911. He attended the Sophienkirche school. The bridge over the Osterbek Canal is named after Heinz Gärtner. He was a social democratic resistance fighter from Winterhude. He lived from 1916 to 2001.
A park at this location was planned by 1994. It was intended to compensate for the Alster City complex. This complex was a massive development. It was built by Helmut Greve.
Realization of the Johannes-Prassek-Park was delayed. Negotiations with Greve were lengthy. He owned the park’s land in the 1990s. The City of Hamburg agreed to a land swap. The land for Johannes-Prassek-Park was exchanged for city building land. Greve was supposed to cover the costs of the park. He was also to pay for the Heinz-Gärtner-Brücke. This was to offset the higher value of the building land. A dispute arose over the agreement’s details. This led to years of stagnation.
The entrance at Weidestraße is a formal plaza. Here, the Johannes-Prassek-Park is only 25 meters wide. It marks the entry from the residential area. An asphalt path leads through. It is lined with perennial beds and trees. Benches and a large chessboard enhance the area.
The four-meter-wide path runs through the Johannes-Prassek-Park. It curves to the bridge over the Osterbek Canal. Children enjoy skating and cycling on the asphalt. Play and sports areas cater to different ages. There is a sand area with a climbing structure and swings. A covered seating area is also available. Younger children have a separate area. It features spring riders, a balance path, and a seesaw. A fenced area protects them. Older children and teens use the soccer field. Streetball hoops and ping pong tables are also available.
To the north, an open area is designed for relaxation. The terrain slopes toward the Osterbek Canal. This creates a natural landscape. Sunny lawns and shady wooded areas invite visitors. A viewpoint offers a place to pause. Benches and picnic tables are nestled under trees. From here, you can continue along the Osterbek Canal promenade.
The 3,500 square meter playground is located here. It is within the green space in Barmbek-Süd. The Johannes-Prassek-Park was created with input from local residents. The Johannes-Prassek-Park offers play and sports for all ages.
The sand pit features a large turntable. A climbing frame and a rope bridge offer fun. Various swings are also available. The sand play area connects to an activity area. This area is for older children and teens. It has two ping pong tables. There is also a small basketball court.
Johannes Prassek was a priest. He was executed in 1943 for criticizing the Nazi regime. Remember him as you enjoy this park.