Significant financial outlays totaling tens of thousands of euros - Closed Historic Parks: A Practice to Avoid Repeating
Since November 2023, the public has been barred from visiting the iconic state-owned historical parks of Karlsburg and Ludwigsburg in Vorpommern, and there's yet to be any announcement regarding their reopening.
Starting from the end of August 2023, it was the first and largest park in Ludwigslust that was forced to shut its doors. Similarly, the park situated behind Schloss Hohenzieritz on the lake plateau has remained closed since May.
The culprit behind this closure frenzy? A colossal oak tree suddenly toppled over in Schlosspark Ludwigslust during the summer of 2023, leaving the 18th-century Swiss House's roof severely damaged. In light of this incident, the State Palaces, Gardens, and Cultural Collections of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern inspected all parks under their purview, which amounted to an impressive 25,000 trees. Their findings were alarming: numerous trees were deemed unsafe. Extensive measures had to be taken in response.
25,000 trees scrutinized
So far, restoration contracts amounting to 750,000 euros have been awarded to bring these historically significant sites back to a safe state. Furthermore, an additional 250,000 euros worth of work is in the planning stages and anticipated to commence and finish this year, according to reports.
In the Schwerin Castle Garden, the work is progressing rapidly. "Only minor adjustments remain in the Greenhouse Garden and the southern section of the castle garden in the coming weeks," a representative from the State Palaces and Gardens shared. By the end of September, everything should be back to normal.
Schlosspark Bothmer in Boltenhagen was reportedly reopened to the public in early June following extensive repairs.
Ludwigslust's formidable challenges
The Schlosspark Wiligrad, where the incline leading to Schwerin See is temporarily off-limits, is expected to be completed by October of this year. The intended reopening is planned for November, as per the administration's announcement.
However, Ludwigslust continues to grapple with numerous challenges. Only areas close to the castle have been reopened as of now. By the end of the year, if at all possible, larger sections are to be made accessible to create a circular pathway within the park.
Regarding the other facilities - Karlsburg, Ludwigsburg, Hohenzieritz - the administration of the State Palaces and Gardens has yet to provide a definitive timeline regarding their reopening. "Due to the substantial number of measures required and the limited capacity of the specialized companies tasked with renovating garden monuments, we're currently unable to provide an exact date for when these parks will be accessible again," they informed. "But rest assured, we're doing everything we can at an accelerated pace, as our resources allow, prioritizing areas with the highest demand for use."
Annual tree inspections in the future
To minimize the risk of future prolonged closures, the condition of trees will be recorded annually. "Post-initial, non-intrusive safety measures, these annual inspections will be less extensive and should not necessitate park closures," the administration assured. However, the financial implications and approval of the necessary funds are yet to be determined.
The closure of Karlsburg and Ludwigsburg in Vorpommern, along with other state-owned historical parks, has left many curious about their monuments. Despite the challenges, the administration assures that they are prioritizing the restoration of these monuments, aiming to reopen them as quickly as possible with their limited resources.
