Schöneberg is planning a car-free redesign of John-F.-Kennedy-Platz!

Schöneberg is planning a car-free redesign of John-F.-Kennedy-Platz!

The redesign of John-F.-Kennedy-Platz in Schöneberg is just around the corner and promises a breath of fresh air in the city. The square, which plays a central role in the cityscape of Berlin and was formerly known as Rudolph-Wilde-Platz, is to be revitalized through a cooperation project between the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, the Bauhaus University Weimar and civil society initiatives. The aim is to improve the quality of stay, reduce car traffic and create new meeting places. The square is regularly used for events, meetings and a weekly market, but does not seem very inviting, as Development City reports.

The current condition of the square is characterized by a sealed area of ​​cobblestones, parked cars and only a few seats. A concept for the redesign was developed by three graduates of the Bauhaus University under the direction of Prof. Andreas Garkisch and recently presented to the Committee for Order, Greenery, the Environment and Climate Protection. It plans to clear the town hall forecourt of stationary traffic and instead create space for seating and art installations.

Reorientation for the place

A particularly interesting point in the planning is the planned division of the square: the southern half is to be car-free, while the northern side will be relocated to Badensche Straße in the long term. In addition, the aim is to densify the rows of trees, which not only improves the cityscape, but also provides shade and cooling. The first measures such as Neighborhood Bread's mobile village oven initiative will begin in July 2025 to promote the connection between the Akazienkiez and Rudolph Wilde Park.

A conversion into a play street is planned for Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße, which in the long term will lead to a cycle path. Belziger Straße could also be converted into a bicycle street. At the eastern end of Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße, a neighborhood pavilion is planned as a “third place” that aims to promote conversations, political participation and leisure activities. In the short term, a mobile café could be provided there, but in the long term, creative solutions such as a microarchitecture with a terrace, bicycle workshop or sports rental are also conceivable, as Development City describes in detail.

A place with history

John F. Kennedy Square not only has an important social aspect, but also a deep-rooted history. On June 26, 1963, then US President John F. Kennedy gave his famous speech here, in which he declared: “I am a Berliner”. This happened just three days before the square was renamed after Kennedy to commemorate the speech. A large sign honoring the president was unveiled a year later on the wall next to City Hall, keeping memories of this historic speech alive, as Wikipedia informs.

In view of this historical significance and the planned changes, district councilor Saskia Ellenbeck is optimistic. She describes the current square as no longer up-to-date and wants to transform it from a functional transport hub into a lively city square. The citizen participation process has already begun, but the implementation of the proposals remains uncertain. The experience of other districts, such as the successful citizen participation on the Görlitzer Ufer in Berlin, could provide suggestions here, where residents were actively involved in the design of their surroundings, as [Deutsche Umwelthilfe](https://www.duh.de/presse/pressemitigungen/pressemitigung/successful-buerger participation-am-goerlitzer-ufer-in-berlin-deutsche-umwelthilfe-ford-von-kommune/) emphasizes.

Overall, the plans suggest that John-F.-Kennedy-Platz could become a real asset for the residents of Schöneberg and all Berliners in the near future - a place that invites you to linger and enjoy. It remains exciting to see what the further steps of implementation will look like and what new ideas citizens will bring in.