Restored for a staggering €129,000!
Laid Waste: The Playground at Kollwitzplatz
A Prenzlauer Berg enigma—the playground at Kollwitzplatz reopens, only to slam shut once more! After a lavish 129,000 euro renovation spanning five months,complaints of rotten wood and uneven ground have left kids' smiles turned upside down.
What was once a cherished wooden train, slide, and climbing frame have given way to a decrepit mess, despite the timely renovation conducted in February 2024. By May's end, a sign and lock blocked the entrance, a cruel twist of unfortunate irony for children eager to race through the sunny days of spring.
Aren't eyes supposed to sparkle with glee when the sandbox beckons?
The whys and hows remain elusive, save for the laconic statement issued by the Pankow district office's spokesperson regarding shoddy workmanship. Inspectors were critical of catch points, weld seams, and fall protection among other aspects.
The opening of the refurbished playground was a political victory for Pankow's responsible city councilor Manuela Anders-Granitzki (47, CDU), heralding the arrival of warmer weather and playtime galore. The playground, like a star in the sky, was meant to dazzle—yet paradoxically lost its luster just three short months later.
Summer solstice looks different this year—no tiptoeing through the sand, no bouncing over the seesaw, no laughter echoing through the playground.
Parents' Voices of Frustration
Disgruntled parents have had their voices heard; their silence broken by cries of confusion and frustration. Alexandra Brandt (40) from Prenzlauer Berg, a mother of two, speaks for many when she says, "It's a shame—utterly shameful. All this time, and my kids loved it here. Now we're back to the drawing board."
Terry Heptinstall (71), the loving grandparent of two frequent playground attendants, expresses his bewilderment: "The renovation is finished, yet the fruits of labor have yet to ripen. The playground looks great, but is inaccessible. It was built to last, not disappear."
A resident of Prenzlauer Berg, Lana Vesil (38), shares her bewilderment, "I'm surprised to see the door locked, having only just reopened." She insists, "The effort made for children is laudable, but this approach does not bear fruit."
Couldn't the defects have been detected during the acceptance process, one might wonder?
Wolfgang Rüttinger, an expert in playground inspections, offers his take on the situation to B.Z. Changes in weld seams or safety catches appearing during operation are possible, but the explanation behind the playground's abrupt closure seems puzzling. "Rot typically takes years, not months," Rüttinger asserts.
With the manufacturer yet to respond, the future of the floundering playground remains uncertain.
Faced with unease and bewilderment, home-and-garden enthusiasts may be disappointed that their attempts to refresh the Kollwitzplatz playground, deemed 'awful' and 'inexcusable' by disgruntled parents, have failed to yield a suitable lifestyle space for their children. A home improvement project that was hoped to enjoy a long life has instead proven short-lived, leaving behind a mystery for all to ponder: could better craftsmanship and quality materials have avoided this home-and-garden catastrophe?
