Neben diesen größeren Anziehungspunkten erfolgte die Akzentuierung in der Parklandschaft durch einen Wechsel von farbigen Pflanzen, weiten Rasenflächen und unterschiedlichsten Baumarten. Insgesamt wurden rund 3000 Laub- und Nadelbäume und mehrere Tausend Gehölzpflanzen angelegt. Die Topografie und die gezielte Baumpflanzung im gesamten Park sollten für das Denkmal eine angemessene Kulisse bilden. Diese Wirkung sollte durch Sicht- und Wegebeziehungen verstärkt werden. Der Erholungspark sollte, in Verbindung mit den gesellschaftlichen Einrichtungen, zu einem Anziehungspunkt für die Bewohner*innen, Besucher*innen und Gäste gleichermaßen gemacht werden.

Auf Kunstwerke im öffentlichen Raum wurde weitestgehend verzichtet. Der Wohnungs- und Gesellschaftsbau blieb in der Gestaltung sehr reduziert, um nicht in Konkurrenz zum Thälmann-Denkmal zu treten.

Die Grünflächen im Thälmann-Park wurden in den letzten Jahren stark vernachlässigt. Mittlerweile gibt es jedoch sowohl von engagierten Anwohner*innen als auch von Seiten des Bezirks Bestrebungen, die Anlagen instand zu setzen.

Kapitel der Ausstellung

Konzeptionelle Zeichnungen zur Gestaltung und Bepflanzung der Bereiche des Teiches und des Rosengartens.
Magistrat von Berlin, Büro für Städtebau, Bereich Freiflächen, u.a. Erhard Stefke, 1983
(IRS Erkner/Wiss. Samml., Bestand Erhard Stefke)

Conceptual drawings for the design and planting of the area of the pond and the rose garden.
Magistrate of Berlin, Bureau for Urban Development, Department for Open Spaces. Erhard Stefke and others, 1983
(IRS Erkner, Scientific Collections, Erhard Stefke Papers)

The park facility design

Since the planning of Ernst-Thälmann-Park had begun, it was clear that the housing and living conditions in the district had decisively to be improved by transforming the area into a spacious leisure and recreation park. This park was meant to be integrated into the local green planning between Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark and Volkspark Friedrichshain.

The first plans from 1978 included a park landscape with several attractions as well as playground and sports facilities. Most of these first, indeed creative ideas were already scrapped soon after. Instead the memorial complex, being the central and starting point of the overall concept, received significantly more space. Also the integration of the new residential buildings led to a reduction of the park area.

The monument complex itself was inclosed with five-metre high artificially raised hills. They were planted with trees and bushes and meant to form a framework for the complex and, on the other hand, to establish a connection with the spacious park facilities. The design focus consists of a pond combined with a rhododendron grove, a terraced rose garden in front of the little promenade with shops, and a great playground at the crossing of Dimitroffstraße / Greifswalder Straße.

Apart from these major centres of attraction, the park landscape was accentuated by a change of coloured plants, wide lawns, and most different types of trees. In total 3,000 leaf trees and conifers and several thousand woody plants were lined out. The topography and the targeted tree planting in the whole park were meant to create an appropriate backdrop for the monument. The visual and route relationships were supposed to increase this impact. The aim of the recreation park, in connection with the community facilities, was to become a main attraction likewise for inhabitants, visitors, and guests.

Artworks in the public sphere were broadly lacking. The residential buildings and public facilities remained very reduced concerning their design in order not to compete with the Thälmann monument. During the last years the green spaces in Thälmann-Park have been highly neglected.

Meanwhile there are dedicated residents though and also the district who intend to overhaul the facilities.