Summertime in Berlin, after a cold long winter locked inside outside spaces turned into urban paradises. Yet, the happy times under the trees have become controversial. Barbecues are cultural past times. Families and friends getting together, sharing food and drinks with music and soccer balls is now controversial.
“Not in my neighborhood” is becoming the new attitude of the capital city. Berliners love a good loud party, but not where they live. Picnics, big gatherings are better somewhere else, not within 200 meters of my flat. A dynamic mixture of socio-economics, prejudice, fishy gentrification tactics, transplants, integration and summer parties hanging out places come into play.
Events in Volkspark Friedrichshain came front and center with the large open city park now a lightning rod for tensions in the city. As large groups gather on the weekends carrying grills and Bluetooth speakers of all size gather for all types of celebrations, neighbors grew tired of the festival consequences.
Residents, near the park have vocally started complaining over the noise and smoke emitting from the fenced urban garden to the point of initiating a petition demanding the left-wing local council to enforce public rules. One has to wonder what affects do these disturbances have on property value located a distanced 300 meters away. Certainly economic interests are tied into the braid of social anger.
Labeled “Bar B Que Hooligans” by the paper BZ, the tension is boiling over to the point of SPD and Green party reps are threatening to ban outdoor grilling. In a compromise, the outdoor cooking areas have been designated to smaller green spots.
For the first time, trash trucks carting cleaning crews work early Sunday morning clearing the piles of debris left from Saturday. Normally, weekend joggers have to use caution, trying not to trip over a discarded hibachi or supersized smoker.
The contentious debate on how to enjoy Berlin parks is just beginning. In September, at the beginning of Fall, this argument will be forgotten until April.