Potsdam announces park maintenance subsidies: What does that mean for citizens?

Potsdam announces park maintenance subsidies: What does that mean for citizens?

In Potsdam, the city council made a groundbreaking decision on July 2, 2025: They decided to end the city's financial participation in the maintenance costs of the Berlin-Brandenburg Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation (SPSG) on December 31, 2025. This change means that the city will no longer provide 800,000 euros annually in the future to enable the urgently needed closure of the funding gap in the city budget. RBB24 reports that financial resources are no longer planned from the 2026 financial year onwards, although the existing contract with the SPSG should normally apply until the end of 2028.

The decision to terminate the care agreement early was driven by former mayor Mike Schubert (SPD), who also held discussions with the SPSG about early termination. However, it is clear that the foundation “does not want” a corresponding termination agreement. The city is therefore now planning to issue the termination for an important reason and at the same time seek an accompanying declaration from the SPSG in order to avoid possible legal disputes.

Consequences for the parks

The decision also has an impact on the future of Potsdam's parks, which will remain accessible without an entrance fee. Culture Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) expressed criticism of the city's move, as it could jeopardize the care and maintenance of the important park landscapes. The care agreement has existed since 2014 and was most recently extended for the years 2024 to 2028 in order to compensate for the SPSG's financing deficit. The city of Potsdam however, would like to continue and further develop its collaboration with the SPSG to address the challenges in the parking situation.

Current parking conditions

Especially in the last few weeks, extreme weather conditions, such as the heat, have caused damage to the parks. In the New Garden, which will be closed on July 2nd and 3rd, there is an increased risk of branches breaking due to drought. The Marmorpalais will also remain closed on the same days due to the security situation. In addition, Sacrow Park is currently not accessible due to significant damage caused by a storm on June 26th. In the remaining open parks, walking on the paths is recommended for safety reasons, while sunbathing lawns and cordoned off areas should be avoided. The SPSG points out the dangers caused by the extreme weather events in the region and cites ongoing clean-up work as a possible cause for further restrictions.

What happens next with the parks and maintenance remains to be seen. The city has taken a significant step that will impact the future of the popular recreational areas. The challenge now is to keep the parks in an attractive condition while at the same time reducing the burden on the city budget.