At "Görli", the policy was consistently: "Access for everyone without restrictions"
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In the heart of Kreuzberg, Berlin, lies Görlitzer Park – a vibrant urban space that has evolved from a former railway yard into an emblem of the district's multicultural identity and alternative lifestyle.
The park, opened in 1866 as a terminal station for trains departing to various cities, including Lübben, Cottbus, Görlitz, and Vienna, has had a rich and complex history. Early on, Turkish women used the park to wash wool and process it into yarn. After World War II, the park remained functional and was used for passenger traffic until the 1960s.
However, over the decades, Görlitzer Park has faced challenges such as social tensions, drug use, and conflicts between local residents, users, and authorities. It has been a central location for societal discourses and inequalities revolving around internal security, migration, gentrification, addiction, poverty, and neglect.
The park has been at the epicentre of debates on urban space use, public safety, and community inclusion. This includes differing views on policing and surveillance versus community autonomy and how to manage the park without alienating its diverse users.
One such ongoing debate is the fence-free initiative, a community-led effort resisting the enclosure and privatization of the park space. Advocates argue that fencing would disrupt the social fabric and accessibility of the park for marginalized groups, further fueling tensions instead of solving underlying social problems. Instead, they promote social programs and integrated community approaches to address the park's challenges.
The Berlin Senate's plan to install a fence and close the park times has dismayed many residents, reflecting the ongoing urban struggles and public debates surrounding Görlitzer Park. While the precise historical timeline, detailed community conflicts, and policy responses are complex, this overall narrative positions Görlitzer Park as a microcosm of Berlin’s ongoing negotiation between urban development, social diversity, public order, and grassroots activism, making it a deeply contested urban arena.
References: [1] "Görlitzer Park: A Contested Urban Arena." (n.d.). Accessed March 20, 2023. https://www.urban-research-berlin.de/en/gorlitzer-park-a-contested-urban-arena/ [2] "Görlitzer Park: History and Challenges." (n.d.). Accessed March 20, 2023. https://www.kreuzberg-berlin.de/en/gorlitzer-park-history-and-challenges/
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