By Johannes Malinowski
In the Grunewald, athletes can now climb the ladder to heaven, the triple horizontal bar or the rocker: the Paulsborn keep-fit path has become Berlin’s first health path.
The 1.4-kilometre circular trail leads from the Hüttenweg car park past 14 stations. The restyling cost about 180,000 euros. A Brandenburg company designed the sports equipment made of oak wood, and the new health path was implemented together with the Sport-Gesundheitspark Berlin association.
The classic: balance is practiced on the balance beam Photo: Ralf Gunther
The squat post was also developed and built in Brandenburg Photo: Ralf Gunther
Project manager Frank Ackermann (43) from the Berlin forests: “It would be desirable for every forestry office to have such a path.” The facility in Grunewald could be a model for other forests.
The new environment senator Manja Schreiner (45, CDU) opened the path on Monday at her first press appointment in office. “The path was last revised almost 20 years ago and was in dire need of renovation,” she says.
Environment Senator Manja Schreiner and Berlin Forestry boss Gunnar Heyne at the opening of the new health trail in Grunewald Photo: Ralf Gunther
Formerly a keep-fit path, now a health path. How come? “The concept has evolved. It frees itself from the topics of self-optimization, pressure to perform or sport to achieve aesthetic ideals.” Today, the focus is on preventing diseases that are aggravated by lack of exercise.
There are also nine lockers at the entrance. If you want to use the cupboards, you have to bring a lock.
At each of the 14 stations, a sign explains the exercises at different levels of difficulty Photo: Ralf Gunther
Berlin is top when it comes to forest sports. 1800 kilometers of forest paths for walking and cycling, 280 kilometers of marked hiking trails, 700 benches and seating areas.