Freunde des Mauerparks e.V.

For the last 15 years Mauerpark has enjoyed peaceful celebrations to dance in the May. This was made possible by the hard work and commitment of artists and neighbours. This year, the celebrations have been cancelled as a result of complaints by residents.

After so many years, the excellent collaboration between Pankow Council, the police and volunteers has come to an abrupt end. Pankow Council and the police are no longer willing to turn a blind eye to these peaceful and uncommercial celebrations in their established form and time frame.

Fearing possible complaints from residents, the police have announced tough conditions and restrictions for the celebrations. The Peaceful Walpurgis Night team has therefore pulled out of any further involvement. It cannot see how it will be possible to guarantee peaceful and creative celebrations in Mauerpark without music.

Mauerpark had become a magnet on Walpurgis Night for “young rioters,” who came from all over Germany to pick a fight with the forces of law and order. The peaceful celebrations were initiated by residents in 2004 as a creative response to this – a response that worked for 15 years. Now a group of residents trying to prevent any kind of “noise” in Mauerpark have put an end to it. The team regrets this development and calls for more appreciation and support from the authorities and the other residents.

The Peaceful Walpurgis Night team will dance in the May elsewhere. It will hold its own private party without having to deal with constraints and restrictions. What happens in Mauerpark and how the residents deal with it remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the Peaceful Walpurgis Night team will not be able to influence it.

Karaoke in Mauerpark has been the subject of extensive media coverage recently. The department responsible for environmental matters and nature conservation at Pankow Borough Council is holding a public hearing at which residents who feel disturbed by noise from the park will be able to have their say. Pankow Council will then take a decision on granting permits for the Sunday karaoke.

When: Wednesday, 3 April 2019 from 6.30 to 8.00 pm
Where: BVV-Saal, Haus 7, Fröbelstr. 17, 10405 Berlin

The hearing is open to the public.

For further information (in German) go to:
www.berlin.de/ba-pankow/

Tuesday, 29.01.2019, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Rathaus Pankow, Breite Strasse 24A-26, 13187 Berlin
in the Grosser Saal

Pankow Council has convened the third meeting of the Mauerpark Round Table on Tuesday 29 January 2019 at 5:30 pm in the Grosser Saal of the Town Hall, Rathaus Pankow, Breite Strasse 24-26, 13187 Berlin.

As agreed at the first two sessions of the Round Table, this meeting will now debate the possibility of updating the existing park regulations, designating functional areas for different uses in the park, and deploying park rangers.

The aim of the third Round Table is to find a sustainable solution that is acceptable to all stakeholders and to define possible ways forward that will enable local residents and the artists using the park to get on well together.

A range of people is expected to attend: representatives of the local council, of civil society, the public administration and business. The Mayor of Pankow, Sören Benn (Die Linke party), will also be there. The meeting has been organised by the newly established Büro für Bürgerbeteiligung (Public Participation Office).

For minutes of the first two meetings, please go to:
www.berlin.de/ba-pankow/

Information on the initiators of the Mauerpark Round Table:
www.mauerparkkultur.de

Appeal by the Freunde des Mauerparks:
www.mauerpark.info/2018/10/culture-in-the-mauerpark

2018 was a turbulent year for the Mauerpark and 2019 will no doubt also have a few surprises in store.

We have just one request to everyone who is thinking of coming to the Mauerpark to see in the New Year:

Please spare a thought for the wildlife in the park and celebrate without bangers and rockets. A lot of animals live in the Mauerpark and the noise, smoke and flashes of fireworks are terrifying for them. The park is one of the very few safe places for them to seek refuge in the city. Please don’t destroy that for them.

And think of your fellow human beings too! They are not an appropriate target for home-made rockets or bangers. Have a great party and enjoy yourselves but please do not overestimate your skills in handling the fireworks. Remember they can cause serious injury – to you and others.

Please don’t litter the park. Take your empty packaging, bottles and glasses home with you.

Our motto for 2019 remains the same: Respect for one another and commitment to taking care of this precious open space in our city.

The Friends of the Mauerpark wish you fun on New Year’s Eve and all the best for 2019!

For many years now, Mauerpark has been a popular meeting place on Sundays for local people, visitors, artists and street musicians. The flea market and karaoke are key features, but it is the street musicians who play a major part in the character of Mauerpark Sundays.

For several weeks now, musicians who have been able to play undisturbed for years have had to put up with residents reporting them to the police, in some cases resulting in them being charged with public nuisance offences and having their equipment confiscated.

A number of visitors to Mauerpark, local residents, and musicians have got together to work creatively and constructively. To draw attention to the situation, they invite you to join them at a demonstration on Sunday in Mauerpark under the banner “Music connects!”

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Demonstration

Sunday 14.10.2018 – 2 o’clock
At Mauerpark

More Info:
instagram.com/SaveMauerpark
facebook.com/SaveMauerpark
twitter.com/SaveMauerpark

weiter lesen …

On 30th of April we will have a colorful and peaceful Dance into May at Mauerpark, with a bonfire, fire artistry and lots of music.

You’re a witch, fire artists, musicians or you have a band? Then be creative and be part of a diverse community to celebrate this special night!

Prep Meeting:
April 09th 2018, 19.00 at Mauersegler
April 23th 2018, 19.00 at Mauersegler

More information:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
facebook.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht
facebook.com/mauerpark.berlin

A promise is a promise: we got the rainbow back!
And not only do we have a new rainbow, we also have a play ship – an ark complete with giraffe.

We would therefore like to invite everyone who supported us financially and practically and, of course, the children and their parents to come and celebrate this special moment with us.

When: Friday, 14 July 2017 at 3.00 pm
Where: Rainbow Playground in Mauerpark

Anyone who believes that rainbows simply fall out of the sky is sadly mistaken. Turning this dream into reality was a long process and it wasn’t always easy. But the process was as important as the result and lots of people got to know each other and appreciate each other along the way. We reached our goal through a concerted effort.

The original rainbow failed a safety inspection. The local authority didn’t feel able to repair the ageing playground and sent in the chainsaws. We channelled our outrage into a constructive approach to the problem: build a new rainbow in the same place. But there was just one problem – the local authority didn’t have the money to do it. A joint effort on the part of the playground designers and equipment manufacturers SIK-Holz, the Friends of  Mauerpark, the local authority, the  many people who made generous donations and,  last but not least, a host of volunteers resulted in a new playground being built.

The first phase with the western section of the rainbow and a swing was completed in summer 2016 and now in summer 2017 the eastern part of the rainbow and the new play ship have been added. All that remains now is to dismantle the last of the barriers and celebrate the official opening of the Rainbow Playground to the public at 3.00 pm on 14 July 2017.

The slogan for the celebrations is quite simple: come and join in!

Local people, visitors and creatives will get together to produce a very special evening that will include a campfire, music, fire juggling, soap bubbles and the opportunity to dance in the May. You can let your imagination run free in Mauerpark.

Some of the people joining us this year: Peter & Pat, Team-Fox, Zirkus Internationale, Fire Circles, Hope Center, Bearpit Karaoke, Dub der Guten Hoffnung, Herz & Leber, Puto Productions and 12 Volt – to mention just a few.

At 7 pm we will express our hopes and wishes for peace in the form an interfaith prayer. Everyone of any faith is welcome to join in.

Our celebrations will end just before midnight. After 1.00am, please spare a thought for the people who live near the park and would like to get a good night’s sleep!

Further information at:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
www.fb.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht