Time to journey back to the late 19th century when Dusseldorf planned to enhance the city with parks. The Volksgarten emerged during this era. It is a green haven for all.
The city acquired 11 hectares of land in 1892. The land came from the estates of the Count of Arenberg family. Braun & Bloem bought the area for factory expansion. However, the city stipulated the establishment of the Volksgarten in the purchase agreement. In 1893, the mayor ordered a redesign of the entire area. This included the purchased park, Stoffeln Cemetery, and allotment gardens. The Volksgarten was created as a natural park. It retained this form until 1987.
An architectural competition took place in 1895. It sought designs for a gastronomy building in the Volksgarten. Peter Paul Fuchs, a Dusseldorf architect, won. His design was selected for execution.
After World War II, the adjacent industrial site lay unused. It became a dumping ground. It received no further attention.
Fast forward to 1987. Dusseldorf hosted the Bundesgartenschau a year before its 700th anniversary. The Nordpark was deemed too small. Instead, planners chose to re-imagine an area. This area included Sudpark, Schrebergartensiedlung Stoffeln, part of Stoffeln Cemetery, Volksgarten, and a neighboring fallow land. The Volksgarten became the main entrance. Large parts of the Bundesgartenschau site remain in their 1987 form today.
Today, the Volksgarten is a 27-hectare section of the Sudpark. Unlike the southern part of the park. The Volksgarten is more natural. It contrasts with the artistically designed landscape.
Children enjoy a water playground in warm temperatures. Students from the nearby Heinrich Heine University relax on the meadows. They often have picnics. Cabaret fans visit the small stage of comedian Manes Meckenstock in the Kurhaus. The Kurhaus features a terrace with outdoor dining and a pond with a boathouse.
Public transport provides access to the park. The Dusseldorf Volksgarten S-Bahn station serves the area.
But that is not all that the Volksgarten has to offer.
There was a time when the Volksgarten was a children’s paradise. There were quiet corners for reading comics under trees. Dense thickets were ideal for games. The kiosk near the underpass to Emmastrasse was a popular spot. Here, children bought mixed bags of sweets and fizzy powder.
Later, the Volksgarten became a destination for walks. People often stopped at Haus Kolvenbach or the restaurant near Hennekamp. Beer gardens were not yet common. But terraces offered coffee and cake in the summer. The park was too small for long walks. The creation of the Sudpark for the 1987 Bundesgartenschau changed that. The Volksgarten expanded significantly.
Since the 1990s, citizens have increasingly enjoyed the outdoors. Picnics and barbecues were rare in the Volksgarten before. But the people of Dusseldorf also conquered the Sudpark. Social life in the park changed significantly.
On weekends, people gathered to drum and make music. Groups practiced gymnastics or yoga. On Sunday mornings, joggers flocked to the Volksgarten. Families with migration backgrounds grilled, ate, and chatted.
The Volksgarten now features themed gardens. These include a fragrance garden and a rock garden. There is also a rhododendron valley. Playgrounds abound with water play areas and a rope circus. You will also find playing fields.
Today, as you stroll through the Volksgarten, imagine the laughter of children. Hear the music. Smell the aroma of barbecues. This park is a testament to Dusseldorf’s commitment to providing green spaces. It is a vibrant hub for recreation. It is a place where memories are made.