Volkspark Wuhlheide

Volkspark Wuhlheide
Pionierpark Ernst Thälmann (1950 – 1990)
Main pathway (Hauptweg) in Volkspark Wuhlheide
Location in Berlin
Type	Urban forest park
Location	Oberschöneweide, Treptow-Köpenick, Berlin, Germany
Coordinates	52°28′07″N13°31′24″E / 52.46861°N 13.52333°E / 52.46861; 13.52333
Created	1920s–1932 (major layout) [1]
Operated by	State of Berlin / Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick (park management) [2]
Status	Open all year

Volkspark Wuhlheide (often simply Wuhlheide) is a large public forest park in south eastern Berlin, Germany. Laid out mainly between the 1920s and 1932 under garden director Ernst Harrich, it combines woodland and designed recreation areas. During the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) period its eastern section operated as the youth oriented Pionierpark Ernst Thälmann (1950 – 1990). Within the park are the children’s park railway, the leisure and education complex now known as FEZ Berlin (opened in 1979 as the Pionierpalast; operating as FEZ since 1990), and the listed open air amphitheatre Parkbühne Wuhlheide. ^{[1] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

History

Origins (1920s to 1932)

The Wuhlheide forms part of a historic forest belt in Berlin’s east; in 1911 the Greater Berlin association acquired land in the area for drinking water purposes, with obligations to preserve forest and create a public park. ^[3] After 1919 the Treptow gardens authority resumed planning a combined public forest and landscape park; the city assembly approved the project in 1922, and Ernst Harrich produced plans in 1923 (supplemented in 1924). Implementation continued until 1932, merging quiet woodland with open lawns and sports/play fields. ^{[1] [3] [5] [7]}

Soviet and GDR time (1950–1990)

War damage and subsequent Soviet military use altered parts of the landscape after 1945. From about 1950, following Soviet models, the eastern section was converted into the Pionier- und Kulturpark Ernst Thälmann (Pioneer's and Culture park Ernst Thälmann) for state youth work, including a children’s railway. ^{[4] [8]} The large open air stage (later Parkbühne Wuhlheide) was built on rubble mounds for the 3rd World Festival of Youth and Students in summer 1951; the opening ceremony took place on 27 July 1951 under (East) Berlin's mayor Friedrich Ebert. ^{[9] [10]} In 1979, the Pionierpalast Ernst Thälmann opened within the park as a central venue for youth education and leisure. ^{[6] [11]}

Since reunification

After 1990, restoration and reactivation of facilities progressed. The open air stage, protected as a garden monument, was renovated in 1996–1997 (architect Werner Weickenmeier), adding a permanent tented roof and modern visitor infrastructure; it reopened in June 1996. ^[9] Since 1990, the former Pionierpalast has operated as the FEZ Berlin (Abbreviation for Freizeit- und Erholungszentrum; English: Leisure and Recreation Center), a major children's and youth complex. In May 2025 the FEZ complex was formally listed as a monument by the State Monuments Office (Landesdenkmalamt) Berlin. ^{[6] [12] [13]}

Name

The toponym refers to the stream Wuhle and the adjoining heath/forest. Administrative sources distinguish the broader landscape unit (forest and facilities) from the historic garden monument core. ^{[2] [3] [5]}

Features and attractions

• Park landscape and trails: The park combines woodland, meadows and designed gardens (including the historical terrace garden north of the Waldfriedhof), with extensive foot and cycle paths. ^{[2] [3] [5]}
• Children's park railway: A narrow-gauge park railway operates seasonally across parts of the park and toward the S-Bahn connection. ^[14]
• FEZ Berlin (complex opened 1979; FEZ since 1990): It is Europe's largest non-profit children’s, youth and family centre. It includes an orbitall space education centre, an Astrid Lindgren children's theater, and a children's cinema; the complex is a listed monument. ^{[6] [12] [13] [15]}
• Parkbühne Wuhlheide: Open air amphitheatre (built 1951; renovated 1996–1997) used for large concerts and events. ^{[5] [9]}
• Modellpark Berlin-Brandenburg: After the demolition of the Ernst-Thälmann-Stadion, the Modellpark Berlin-Brandenburg opened on the site in June 2007. It launched with about 45 architecture models at 1:25 and has since expanded to more than 80 exhibits within a landscaped setting. ^{[14] [16] [17] [18]}

Gallery

• 
  Opening of the new stadium area in the Pionierpark during the 1951 World Festival of Youth and Students.

See also

• Parkbühne Wuhlheide
• Berlin Wuhlheide station
• List of parks and gardens in Berlin

References

1. "Geschichte der Wuhlheide [History of the Wuhlheide]". berlin.de (Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick) (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
2. "Wuhlheide – Volkspark, Naturraum und Bildungsort [Wuhlheide – Public park, natural area and educational site]". berlin.de (Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick) (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
3. "Volkspark Wuhlheide mit der Alleeachse des Eichgestells [Volkspark Wuhlheide with the avenue axis of the Eichgestell]". Denkmaldatenbank, Landesdenkmalamt Berlin (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
4. "Pionierpark „Ernst Thälmann" (Wuhlheide)". Denkmaldatenbank, Landesdenkmalamt Berlin (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
5. Landesdenkmalamt Berlin, ed. (2003). Denkmale in Berlin. Bezirk Treptow-Köpenick. Ortsteile Nieder- und Oberschöneweide [Monuments in Berlin. District of Treptow-Köpenick. Sub-districts Nieder- and Oberschöneweide]. Denkmaltopographie Bundesrepublik Deutschland (in German). Petersberg: Michael Imhof Verlag. ISBN   978-3937251103.
6. Apfel, Franziska (28 May 2025). "Ehemaliger Pionierpalast „Ernst Thälmann": FEZ in Berlin steht unter Denkmalschutz [Former Pioneer Palace "Ernst Thälmann": FEZ in Berlin listed as a monument]". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
7. Harrich, Ernst (1929). "Volks- und Waldpark Wuhlheide in Berlin-Treptow [People's and forest park Wuhlheide in Berlin-Treptow]". Die Gartenkunst (in German). 42: 24–26.
8. "Pionierrepublik [Pioneer Republic]". Wuhlheide-Erleben.de (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
9. "Geschichte der Parkbühne Wuhlheide [History of the Parkbühne Wuhlheide]". Parkbühne Wuhlheide (official) (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
10. Liebermann, Doris (5 August 2021). "Weltfestspiele der Jugend und Studenten 1951. Wie die junge DDR prestigewirksam ihre Existenz präsentierte [World Festival of Youth and Students 1951: how the young GDR showcased itself]". Deutschlandfunk (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
11. Neuendorff, Maria (26 September 2019). "Jubiläum: Das FEZ in Berlin feiert sein 40. Jubiläum mit großer Party [Anniversary: The FEZ in Berlin celebrates its 40th anniversary with a big party]". Märkische Oderzeitung (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
12. Heflik, Katharina (28 May 2025). "Treptow-Köpenick: FEZ wird unter Denkmalschutz gestellt [FEZ placed under heritage protection]". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
13. "FEZ is now a listed building". Berlin.de (State press service). 30 May 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
14. "Ruhe und Raumfahrt in der Wuhlheide [Quiet and space travel in the Wuhlheide]". Berliner Zeitung (in German). 26 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
15. Schmidt, Danuta (29 May 2025). "FEZ in Berlin: Ein Lärchenholz-Palast für Kinder [FEZ in Berlin: A larch-wood palace for children]". nd-aktuell (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
16. "Nur noch 24 Stunden [Only 24 hours left]". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 23 June 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
17. Flatau, Sabine (20 July 2022). "Modellpark Berlin-Brandenburg feiert Jubiläum [Model Park Berlin-Brandenburg celebrates anniversary]". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
18. Schwarz, Martin (28 July 2021). "Modellpark Wuhlheide: Berlin und das Umland im Kleinformat [Model Park Wuhlheide: Berlin and the surrounding area in miniature]". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Retrieved 11 October 2025.

External links

• Media related to Volkspark Wuhlheide at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website