Kellinghusenpark

Beneath the rustling leaves of a 250-year-old swamp cypress, a secret lies nestled within Kellinghusenpark. Kellinghusenpark isn’t just a green oasis in bustling Hamburg. It’s a time capsule whispering tales of mayors, fires, and resilient trees. Once part of Bürgermeister Heinrich Kellinghusen’s estate, the park bears his name. Kellinghusen, Hamburg’s last mayor under the old order, purchased this land in 1842. He found solace here during the tumultuous 1848 revolution. Ironically, the park almost vanished beneath concrete and brick. The city initially planned to develop the entire area. However, the remarkable trees, including the ancient swamp cypress, a tulip tree, and a 300-year-old blood beech, intervened. Otto Linne, director of Hamburg’s horticultural department, fiercely defended the park’s existence. He even persuaded chief architect Fritz Schumacher to join his cause. Kellinghusenpark opened to the public in 1929. Designed by Hans and Oskar Gerson, along with Robert Friedmann, it was initially intended as a peaceful haven for the elderly. A children’s playground was briefly considered, but deemed too disruptive. Kellinghusenpark hides a charming thatched cottage. Originally a cowshed, it later became a youth center for the German Federation for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND). This resilient little building has faced its own trials by fire. It burned down in 1937, 1987, and again in 2014. Each time, it rose from the ashes, symbolizing the enduring spirit of Kellinghusenpark. Today, you can stroll through the park, admire the towering trees, and discover remnants of the past. The pond near the Loehrsweg entrance is a vestige of a once-larger fishpond. The memory of the magnificent blood beech, which succumbed to disease in the late 1950s, is marked by a stone circle. Kellinghusenpark is more than a park. It’s a testament to nature’s resilience and a tranquil escape within a vibrant city.