By Birgit Buerkner
When Prince Carl of Prussia returned to Berlin from his first trip to Italy in 1823, he decided to realize his dream of an Italian villa in a southern-looking landscape in the middle of the “Märkische Streusandbüchse”. He created a jewel, furnished with original antique columns and statues. Today it is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site.
But the entrances to the 116-hectare Glienicke Castle Park are blocked by barriers, the forest area is demarcated with red and white warning tape, signs everywhere on the paths warn: No entry, danger to life and limb!
A piece of Italy on the banks of the Havel. The garden monument was created by Peter Joseph Lenné. Unesco made it a World Heritage Site. But most of the park is closed Photo: picture alliance / imageBROKER
Most of the garden monument has been closed for two and a half years now. Only a small area around the castle and the circular path around the park are accessible.
The world cultural disgrace of Berlin!
“It’s enough,” says Steglitz-Zehlendorf’s CDU faction leader Torsten Hippe (50). “The district’s years of inactivity must finally come to an end. The park must be reopened to the public.” He brought a motion to this effect into yesterday’s district parliamentary session.
In most of the park, signs warn against entering the trails Photo: Ralf Lutter
“The park was closed for reasons of traffic safety,” says City Councilor for the Environment Urban Aykal (48, Greens) of the BZ. This leads to trees tipping over, parts of crowns or strong branches falling down.” Trees have died, which endangers stability.
But why hasn’t the district been able to make the park safe again for two and a half years?
The stability of many trees is endangered, and entire forest areas are blocked off with a safety barrier Photo: Ralf Lutter
Aykal asserts the damage can only be repaired by crown reduction or felling. For reasons of nature conservation, this is only possible from the beginning of October to the end of February. In addition, it is an area with a particularly large number of protected animals, which is why an expert for species protection must be consulted.
And Aykal gives another reason: road safety in more heavily frequented parks and cemeteries would have had priority.
Bars block access to the paths of the Glienicke Palace Park Photo: Ralf Lutter
Hippe counters: “This park has priority, you can’t close it for years. Elsewhere, money and staff are being made available for ideological projects, such as painting bus lanes all over the city. But there is no solution for the green that citizens can use directly.”
Steglitz-Zehlendorf environmental councilor Urban Aykal Photo: Green Berlin
When asked by BZ, Aykal explained that at least the outskirts of the park and along the parallel path to the castle should be usable again in March 2023.
Sad prospects: According to Aykal, the entire park cannot be reopened because the condition of the trees continues to deteriorate rapidly.