Schwerin in turmoil: referendum on Lankow park sale!

Schwerin in turmoil: referendum on Lankow park sale!

In Schwerin the signs point to participation! Today, December 22, 2025, around 80,000 letters will be prepared for a referendum on the sale of a playground and park in the Lankow district. What was once just a municipal park could soon become a building site for rental apartments, shops and medical practices for an investor. The price for this project? A total of 18 million euros. The referendum will take place on January 25, 2026 and will take place exclusively by postal vote - a novelty in the history of Schwerin.

In order for the decision to be valid, at least 20,000 of around 80,000 eligible voters must take part. These must be registered at least 37 days before the vote in Schwerin. This means that all residents aged 16 and over, including German citizens and EU citizens, are called upon to cast their vote. The municipal supervisory authority had originally suggested linking this referendum with the mayoral election in April 2026, but this was rejected - not least in order to give investors planning security.

Citizen protests and signature collections

The resistance among the population cannot be overlooked. A citizens' initiative has already collected 4,000 signatures against the sale. This type of citizen participation shows how important the topic of urban development has now become. The Urban and Cultural Protection Action Group, ASK Schwerin for short, supports the referendum and calls for the park and playground to be preserved. They argue that the green oasis in Lankow is an important part of residents' quality of life, and the loss of 5,000 square meters of public green space would be a bitter blow.

The park is not only a barrier-free recreational area, but also a social meeting place for local residents. With the planned sale, citizens would not only lose a green recreational area, but also a central place to play and spend time that cannot be replaced by smaller, distributed areas. The demands are clear: the district park should remain the property of the city and the sale should be reversed.

Urban development and citizen participation

The whole event sheds light on the issues of urban development and the role of citizen participation. Urban development includes not only structural changes, but also the social and ecological aspects that must be integrated into the planning processes. The term “participation paradox” describes how often citizens are only included in such processes late, when the scope for action is already severely limited. A transparent and early information policy is of great importance here.

Digital participation in urban development planning has been mandatory since 2017, making it easier for the population to have their voice heard. But implementing this participation is often difficult, as the current case in Schwerin shows. Public opinion is needed, and it clearly shows how much people care about their city and its green spaces.

The upcoming vote could decide not only about the preservation of a park, but also about how the city of Schwerin deals with its green spaces and citizen participation in the future. A look at other cities shows that open spaces are crucial for quality of life. Schwerin has the chance to make a statement here.

Link to detailed information can be found here: NDR, Urban and cultural protection campaign and Civil society.