Julianenpark in Leer

The 32-hectare Julianenpark in Leer is one of the historic parks created and designed by the noble family von Wedel. Count von Wedel, then owner of the Evenburg castle, named the new park in honor of his daughter-in-law Julia. One of the main purposes when the park was established was timber production, so it initially developed as a park-like forest with walking paths.

At the end of the 1920s, the city of Leer acquired Julianenpark. A hurricane in 1972 changed the park’s appearance in just a few hours. Almost half the forest was destroyed, and more than three-quarters of the older trees did not survive the storm. But this disaster also had a positive side! It created the opportunity to redesign, turning what was once an almost closed forest into a “real” park with diverse landscapes. A large pond, a dog area, a small soccer field, and lawn and meadow areas for relaxing were added. This increased the park’s importance for athletes and those seeking relaxation from the many neighborhoods that now completely surround it. There is a large playground for children inside the park. The park is also used for various events, with the now well-established summer festival in Julianenpark being especially significant.