New plans for the Mariendorf People’s Park: The green area between Mariendorfer Damm and the Mariendorf summer pool is popular with residents. Photo: Charles Yunck
By Sara Orlos Fernandes
American feeling in the middle of Mariendorf. The public park between Mariendorfer Damm and Rixdorfer Straße is to be rebuilt next year and the Ice Age puddle will also be revived. A swamp landscape like in the famous Everglades in Florida!
Wooden walkways, new plants – the swamp garden becomes an experience for visitors to the park in the south of Berlin. It goes back to the Ice Age, when the Pfuhl chain was created. But in recent decades the swamp area has been forgotten. Wild growth destroyed this gem.
The pool in Mariendorf Volkspark dates back to the Ice Age. Photo: Charles Yunck
Now the water coming from the upper area of the Pfuhl chain is to be introduced and dammed up through various stages. “The swamp garden in combination with the planting will be reminiscent of the landscape of the Everglades,” said a spokesman for the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district office to BZ. In addition to the butterbur growing there, large-leaved perennials such as the table leaf are to be planted.
A look into the swamp garden of the future: The garden should be accessible in the future. Photo: Tempelhof-Schöneberg district office
Further measures planned
But that’s not all: the rose and perennial gardens are also being modernized and redesigned to be climate-proof. A dog meadow is planned next to the hockey club. Further south there will be an orchard and playground.
A new playground at the Rixdorfer Straße entrance will be divided into three zones: there is a protected sand area for small children, and the area with wood chips for older children – as well as an intergenerational activity area with table tennis tables, picnic tables and drinking fountains.
A new playground is to be built at the Rixdorfer Straße entrance. A fruit meadow, games area and dog meadow are also planned. Photo: Tempelhof-Schöneberg district office
According to the district, the renovation of the park will cost 2.5 million euros. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2024 and last at least two years. During the measures, not the entire green area is closed, but only partial areas.