When we think of amusement parks the first things that come to mind are long lines and dripping ice cream, but there was a time when these places presented a rare chance to have the physical world match the one in your budding imagination. That is why we were intrigued when we saw "Kulturpark" on Kickstarter. Amusement parks are a chance for communities to engage their collective histories and dreams to make for real, thrilling experiences.
In 1969, East German authorities opened Kulturpark, which became privatized after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 2001, due to financial struggles, the park was closed. Throughout the month of June, Kulturpark will hold a cultural exchange program in which visionaries, students and artists from Berlin and the US will collaborate on the future possibilities of the venue. From June 28 to July 1, the park will be open to the public for the first time in over a decade. The opening will feature interactive storytelling, social imagination, and a vision for better urban planning. The results of this month-long experiment will be used to create a unique grassroots proposal for the park's future. The revived Kulturpark will attempt to teach a new, interactive idea of amusement, as opposed to passive, consumerist entertainment. The park gives children and adults from Berlin and visitors around the world a chance to experience how a little creativity can change a city for the better.
Check out the video above from the visionaries behind Kulturpark and find out how you can get involved here.