Four and a half hectares of green. That’s the Lichtenrader Volkspark. Imagine a sprawling urban oasis blossoming unexpectedly. This wasn’t planned. It was born from a need. A need for green space.
In the 1970s a high-rise housing estate rose in Lichtenrade-Ost. New residents soon discovered a stark lack of greenery. East of the settlement lay the Berlin Wall. The surrounding land remained inaccessible.
So in 1979 a citizen’s initiative BILO called for a planting action. This wasn’t just any planting. They encouraged people to plant Christmas trees with root balls. After Christmas these trees found homes in the future park.
From this initial planting the Lichtenrader Volkspark e V was born in 1981. The land ownership was initially complex. The Evangelical Church held 36000 square meters. Berlin owned 10000 square meters. A farmer Lehne held another 10000 square meters.
After much negotiation the association secured a lease in 1984. In 1986 Berlin bought 30000 square meters from the church. This was leased to the association rent-free for twenty years. The full lease was signed in 1989.
Today Lichtenrader Volkspark boasts a festival meadow. There’s a playground. A high-diversity orchard flourishes. A small woodland stands beside the workshop. Flower beds and vegetable patches add pops of color.
Volunteers maintain the park. They work tirelessly collecting rubbish. They combat thoughtless littering. This is a constant battle. They face vandalism too.
Since 2020 the park’s transformation into a nature park continues. New habitats are being created. A dry stone wall stands tall. A wild hedgerow winds through the landscape. A woodland edge biotope helps to increase biodiversity. The focus is on the edges between trees shrubs paths and meadows. These are planted with diverse wildflowers.
The members dream of a small clubhouse. This would provide shelter from inclement weather. They work year-round. The park is their passion. Their love for Lichtenrader Volkspark is palpable. It is a testament to community spirit and green determination. It is a park built by the people for the people.