The People's Park and Sacred Counter-Culture

Created in the late 19th century, the Volksgarten was designed specifically as a green sanctuary for the dense working-class population and industrial laborers of Lend. As factory workers packed into surrounding tenements, this municipal park provided essential open air and recreational space. Today, the park has evolved into a vibrant multi-ethnic urban haven and a canvas for local subcultures. Walking along its paths, you will notice a central pond flanked by a mature tree canopy, alongside designated street-art walls where artists legally paint graffiti. At the heart of the park stands the gleaming white Buddhist Peace Stupa (Friedensstupa), an interreligious symbol set amidst outdoor sports and skate areas. The presence of the stupa and street art side-by-side demonstrates how a Victorian-era municipal park has adapted to serve a diverse, multicultural community while encouraging public artistic expression.