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Tuesday, August 13

Görlitzer Park fence delayed indefinitely due to legal uncertainty

The controversial scheme on hold due to a legal challenge - and there is no clear date for it to start again.

Photo: IMAGO / Emmanuele Contini

Tuesday, August 13

Görlitzer Park fence delayed indefinitely due to legal uncertainty

When Kai Wegner was unexpectedly elected as Berlin’s first CDU mayor in more than 20 years, he appeared to seize upon Görlitzer Park as an opportunity to showcase his “tough on crime” credentials. This politician – who after coming into power immediately imposed austerity measures on Neukölln – was willing to spend €2 million on building a fence around the Kreuzberg park, as well as repairing and reinforcing the existing walls. The area would also be fenced off at night.

Those controversial plans are now in doubt. Work was meant to begin on the fence in July, but the scheme has been “indefinitely delayed” due to an ongoing legal challenge from the district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, who oppose the plans.

So, how long before work begins? Weeks, months, or not till the end of the year? In response to a question from Tagesspiegel, Berlin’s environment administration replied: “All three variants are possible.”