| Berlin's biggest park to open on former Tempelhof Airport site |
 Berlin's biggest park will open on the former Tempelhof Airport site during two days of celebrations in May that are expected to attract 200,000 visitors. Tempelhof became world famous during the Berlin Airlift from 1948-1949 when British and American airplanes nicknamed "Rosinenbomber" (raisin bombers) landed there to deliver food and other essential supplies to the population after the Soviet Union tried to starve the city into submission through a land blockade.The airport closed in 2008 following nearly 100 years of military and civil use when the Berlin authorities decided to develop Schönefeld as the city's sole commercial airport.  Covering 230 hectares, the new Tempelhofer Park straddles the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts and is larger than Berlin’s famous 210-hectare Tiergarten park.The park project is costing €60 million and will be completed by 2017. As well as large green spaces for recreation, the park will have two barbecue areas, a bird reserve, three dog exercise areas and five toilet blocks.The park will be officially opened during a weekend of fun activities on Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9. Attractions on the Saturday include a sports exhibition including soccer, cheerleading, cricket and hockey as well as trendy new sports such as floorball, speed badminton, ultimate frisbee and slacklining. On the Sunday there will be a big display of kite-flying in association with Berlin specialist kite shop Flying Colors. By Paul McVeigh, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Links Tempelhofer Park opening celebration program (German only) http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/tempelhof/de/oeffnung/index.shtml Flying Colors http://www.flying-colors.de/shop/index.php |
