Berlin Court Stops Nighttime Closure of Görlitzer Park

The Berlin Administrative Court has decided that the Görlitzer Park must remain open at night. The Senate under Kai Wegner had closed the park at night in March – a measure that the court has now classified as unlawful. Five residents had successfully filed emergency motions and thereby obtained a provisional suspension of the closure.

Court Sees Disproportionate Interference

The initiative "Görli zaunfrei" had brought the lawsuit and now sees itself vindicated. Following the ruling, park supporters exuberantly celebrated the court decision – for many supporters a symbolic victory against a policy they criticize as disproportionate. The park, known nationwide as a notorious drug trafficking hub, had become the focal point of an intense political debate.

The Senate had justified the nighttime closure on security grounds and wanted to combat drug trafficking. However, the court did not follow this argument. The judges saw the measure as a disproportionate interference – a "clear stop sign" for the Wegner administration, as critics characterized the ruling.

Open Questions About Further Developments

How things will proceed remains unclear. The ruling is initially provisional and concerns the ongoing emergency proceedings. The Senate could pursue the matter in the main case or reconsider its policy. The debate about the park remains unresolved – between the demand for public safety and the right to free park use.