Riverside paths | Berlin: Direct route through the Spree

"The people who live here want to cross-country ski here," Stefano Weinreich told "nd." Since running isn't an option, he swims along the banks of the Spree in Schöneweide, surrounded by more than 200 other demonstrators. "Clear the banks! Clear the banks!" the swimmers shout. This is because there is no path along the bank. To get from the University of Applied Sciences (HTW) via the Kaisersteg to the Schöneweide S-Bahn station, for example, residents and students have to either take a detour via Wilhelminenhofstraße - or swim across the Spree . On Saturday, the demonstrators opted for the direct route. "It doesn't make any sense that this is private property and everyone has to take a huge detour," says Weinreich as he swims towards the square at the Kaisersteg.

Emilia Engels and Lena Maron are also participating in the capital's river. Both live in the neighborhood. They not only want the riverbank path, but also want the waterway to be accessible to everyone : "I would like to see the Spree here swimmable," says Engels. "That would really improve the quality of life here," says Maron, referring to the riverbank path and swimming in the Spree. Both visibly enjoy being able to swim in the water on a hot day. The swimming demonstration is taking place in Schöneweide for the fourth year – the rest of the year, swimming in the river is prohibited.

Whether the Spree is swimmable or not, the demonstrators' primary concern remains the land route. But so far, residents' calls have gone unanswered: Despite repeated discussions between the district and the owner in recent years, the industrial property on the banks of the Spree remains unchanged, and the bank remains closed to residents by a fence. In the past two years, Treptow-Köpenick City Councilor for Building and Urban Development Claudia Leistner (Green Party) promised the demonstrators that she would speak with the owner shortly – but nothing has happened since then. This year, Leistner was unable to speak in person at the rally following the swimming demonstration, but had a speech read out.

"I strongly share this concern," says Leistner, thanking the swimmers and the Schöneweider Ufer citizens' initiative for their commitment. The city councilor advocates for a "cooperative solution before a conflict resolution," meaning she wants to reach an agreement with the owner on a publicly accessible Spree riverbank.

It seems as if the talks this year – at least so far – are going better than they did a year ago. Back then, the city councilor said that the district would, if necessary, assume planning rights through a development plan, thereby enabling expropriation proceedings. Now, however, Leistner speaks of "respect for property rights" and announces, as positive news, that the landowner "wants to develop" the site. Leistner hopes this will lead to a solution that satisfies all parties involved. The next meeting with the owner is scheduled for the end of July.

The Schöneweider Ufer citizens' initiative hopes that things will now actually move forward. The resolution for accessible riverbanks in Treptow-Köpenick and a development plan for the stretch of waterfront between HTW and Kaisersteg have been in place since 2009. "It's good that something is happening here," Michael Kleineberg told "nd." They will ask City Councilor for Construction Leistner about the results of the agreed meeting and explore how the citizens' initiative can contribute to the design of the riverbank path. Kleineberg is pleased that 210 swimmers supported the riverbank path. "There was a great atmosphere in the water with a lot of energy," he says.

Local resident Tamara Wildt also spoke at the rally. She has lived right around the corner from the Kaisersteg square for ten years. Walking or cycling along Wilhelminenhofstrasse with her children is not only a detour, but also dangerous, she says. The cycle path only runs in one direction, the street has to be shared with cars and trams, and riding on the sidewalk is unpleasant for pedestrians. "It really annoys me that this is taking so long; it's completely incomprehensible," she told "nd." She added that open riverside paths would not only please the residents of Schöneweide – one could think even bigger and imagine walking along the banks of the Spree all the way to Mitte. "It could be so beautiful," she says.

Walter Raffauf also wants to take a bigger view of the fight for publicly accessible shores. He's campaigning for free shores at Griebnitzsee in Potsdam – where a particularly high number of private properties block access to the water for everyone else. "The initiatives for free shores in Berlin and Brandenburg have been networked for years," he says. That's why he came to support the Schöneweide residents. "This is an issue for the entire region."