Once a marshy terrain deemed unfit for buildings, the grounds beneath Von-der-Schulenburg-Park now offer a green retreat in Neukölln. This park, a haven of nature, invites you to discover its history and beauty.
Von-der-Schulenburg-Park owes its existence to its soggy origins. In 1913, city maps first marked this area as a green space. It was unnamed then. The low-lying, damp ground made construction difficult. This led to its transformation into a park.
Around 1920, the park received its official name. It was named after Rudolf Wilhelm Graf von der Schulenburg. He served as the president of Brandenburg from 1914 to 1917. By 1921, the Berlin address book recognized it as a park.
In 1923, Ottokar Wagler, a garden director, designed the park. He gave it its formal structure. At the heart of Von-der-Schulenburg-Park lies a long, rectangular water basin. Locals affectionately call it the “Spiegelbecken” or mirror pool. Rows of plane trees line its sides.
At the pool’s southern end sits the Märchenbrunnen. This translates to “fairy tale fountain”. Ernst Moritz Geyger, a sculptor, created this fountain in 1915. The fountain wasn’t installed until 1935 due to location issues and political instability. Its original name was “Symbol des Waldesdomes” or “Deutscher Wald”. This means “Symbol of the forest cathedral” or “German forest”.
After World War II, Anton Lohrer redesigned the park in the early 1950s. By the 1960s, neglect took its toll. Vandals damaged the Märchenbrunnen. In 1970, the park underwent its first complete restoration.
Almost 40 years later, in 2008, Neukölln invested in the park’s revival. Around 200,000 euros restored the paths. Another 250,000 euros created a new playground. In 2009, Von-der-Schulenburg-Park received the Gustav-Meyer-Preis. This award recognized its design and careful upkeep.
The Märchenbrunnen received extensive repairs in 2000 and 2001. The entire structure was dismantled. Each piece was carefully restored. A new fountain chamber was built for the technology. The bronze figures were recreated. Anna Bogouchevskaia, the artist, chose fairy tale themes. She added her own fantasy scenes and witty touches. Since September 2001, the 16 figures spout water. They use fish, buckets, and crowns to create high arcs. Modern lighting illuminates the fountain with fiber optic cables.
From here you can appreciate the transformation of Von-der-Schulenburg-Park. What began as an unusable, soggy patch is now a beloved green space. Its history is etched in every path and fountain.