The hollow area of Görlitzer Park was filled with people celebrating a court decision against Berlin’s mayor, who sought to close the park at night. “Görli is our garden,” said Monika, a retired nurse living nearby, who joined others on Monday evening for drinks and music on the popular meadow in Kreuzberg. She noted that the 14-hectare park serves as a social hub where her daughter grew up. A long-running debate over the park’s use resurfaced when the state government approved an overnight perimeter fence to reduce drug dealing and addiction. Mayor Kai Wegner had called for regaining control of the space after a security meeting in 2023. A €2m metal fence with 16 gates became active in March, but a court ruling kept the gates open around the clock. While many acknowledge issues such as discarded syringes and harassment, critics argue the fence merely shifts problems elsewhere. Members of the Görli Zaunfrei group advocate for integrated social measures instead. The ruling dealt a setback to Wegner, a Christian Democrat facing September elections on a law-and-order platform. In Kreuzberg he is sometimes called the “fence king.” Opponents view the fence as symbolic politics aimed at suburban voters. Drug activity has reportedly moved to nearby streets and buildings. Residents suggest redirecting the €2m cost and €800,000 annual security expenses toward addiction services, which have faced cuts. The fence also conflicts with district council authority. Longtime locals compare the campaign to earlier community efforts in the 1970s and 1980s. Activists once distributed working keys to the locks. Wegner plans to appeal the interim decision. In the meantime, campaigners say the fence has strengthened community ties and they now seek its full removal.
