The Bijlmer Park was built in the early 70's. The soil is swampy and the park started to drench over the decennia. Maintainance was expensive and a big part of the park wildened during the 80's and 90's. Which made it special: I'd never seen such wild nature anywhere else in an urban area. The pheasants, the smell of blossom in spring, the smell of forest after a rainy morning: the bicycle ride from home to the studio was always a pleasure.
For a picnic, BBQ or any other way of chilling, the Bijlmer Park was never the right park. Two prominent reasons. The soil was alway moist, even in summer, so one could not just go sit down in the grass and read a book. Junkies and homeless folks were hanging out and running bussiness all over the place.
When the city department decided to give the park a total make over, it was painful at first: 8500 trees (!) had to make way for the unknown new. I shall never forget the sight of the park after the lumbering. It looked like a war zone. The sawed trees piled up along the Karspeldreef as the war's victims. I remember feeling very depressed about this until I received a flyer with the plans for the new park. Absolutely stunning!
A family park, with lots of playground for young and old, sports facilities, a tea house, art, nature, facilities for special animal species like ice birds and swallows, ponds with small fish for kids to discover and or catch, and more. For more information check the Bijlmer Park website here.
Now you understand why I would not miss the opportunity to see the developments in the new park with my own eyes!
I was impressed by what was shown to us. Every detail in the park has a story or an idea behind it. It looks like budget was hardly an issue. If the park turns out the way they planned it, I will definately frequent it often. The new Bijlmer Park is evidence of the hard work of the local politicians and the love they have for this part of Amsterdam.
To my opinion this is the first period in the history of Bijlmer since the mid/late 70's in which the people in Bijlmer can feel themselves taken seriously by the (local) government.
A park like this, the newly built Bijlmerpark Theatre, the new swimming pool, the new residential areas instead of the high rise appartment buidings, Imagine IC, Arena boulevard, the Bijlmer Station, a decent and humane approach to the drug problems, ... too much to mention.
I'm drifting away now from the tour through the park. Here's an impression:
Hans, the man with mad fauna and flora knowledge, explaining us passionately about a 400 year old tree log found in the soil and now a trophy for the park.
The willow island will be one of the few original parts of the park. The freshly painted graffiti in the back will eventually be overgrown by the climbing green little giant.
All along the design watchtower.
Emile Jaensch (prominent local politician), explaining the cooperation between the city officials and the park designers to create a park this unique.
With the new park, this antique graffiti will disappear... glad I could catch this oldie before it's gone!
Curious yourself? Every 2nd Wednesday of the month you can take this pottenkijkers tour,
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