Berlin Airport Will Become Public Park

Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, which opened in 1923 and played a major role in World War II and the Cold War, closed nearly a year ago and has only been used for a fashion show and concert since.  

But now we hear that that, by next May, the airport’s fields will become a public park. Sprawling out over 230 hectares, Germany’s TheLocal.com reports, the airfield park that straddles both the Kreuzberg and Neukölln districts will be significantly larger than Berlin’s Tiergarten Park. Once the new park opens, the 3.7-mile fence surrounding the former airfield will remain and authorities will close five entrance points each night.

Berlin will be sole owner of the park after purchasing the federal government’s share for $50 million. The city plans to spend a further $86 million over the next seven years to develop the open space. Another $2.3 million per year will go to park maintenance and security.