Seventy hectares of green. That’s the Südpark. Düsseldorf’s largest and most visited park. Imagine this sprawling oasis. It wasn’t always so.
The Südpark began as the Volksgarten. Established in 1893. A park for the people. The city bought land from a noble family. They created a generous green space. The Stoffeln Cemetery and a groundwater lake were incorporated into the design. Construction started in 1895.
But the Volksgarten was just the beginning. South of it lay an ugly wasteland. A former gravel pit. Scrap yards. Unkempt gardens. It wasn’t pretty. In 1982 a vision emerged. A new Südpark. The existing green space needed a makeover. The Volksgarten. The Stoffeln Cemetery. A small garden area. The groundwater lake. All were to be part of the grand plan.
Then came the Bundesgartenschau in 1987. A massive renovation began. Landscaping architects collaborated on the project. Gerd Aufmkolk. Rose Böke. Wolfgang R Mueller. And Horst Wagenfeld among others. They transformed the wasteland. They created the Südpark we know today. The three distinct areas. The Volksgarten. ‘Vor dem Deich’. And ‘In den Gärten’.
‘Vor dem Deich’ evokes the Lower Rhine landscapes. An old quarry pond became three artificial lakes. It’s a bird sanctuary now. Even American species like the muskrat and nutria live there. A large meadow blooms around the lake. The colors change with the seasons.
‘In den Gärten’ is an axis of different garden themes. A fragrance garden. A rock garden. Small pond landscapes. The VHS bio-garden uses no chemicals.
The Südpark boasts more than just nature. It has an enormous rope circus. A creation of Conrad Roland. There are two water playgrounds. One near Emmastrasse was renovated in 2019. There’s a lovingly restored farmhouse. The Höfchen. It’s a child-friendly attraction. Dozens of sculptures. Classic works and abstract creations. Klaus Rinke’s “Zeitfeld” from 1986 is prominent.
The Südpark is more than a park. It’s a testament to vision. It’s a transformation. From wasteland to green paradise. It’s a place where history meets modern design. A place where art and nature intertwine. This is the Südpark. Enjoy its beauty.