Schlosspark, park in Senftenberg, Germany

Schlosspark is a large green space in Senftenberg with old trees, quiet pathways, and two lakes connected by a bridge. The park contains several monuments, historic structures like the 1937 Polenz House, and a small zoo with native and exotic animals.

The park was laid out from 1912, during mayor Kieback's term, as Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park; the remains of the former castle pond that had surrounded the Schloss were drained for it, and its original tree stock survives. In 2009 it was partly redesigned for about 400,000 euros: the approach to the Schloss was paved with granite slabs and basalt, and two ponds were recreated following the historic model.

The park's name changed from Kaiser-Wilhelm-Park to Schlosspark, and the zoo inside it opened on 12 June 1931 with native animals: a black red deer, a pair of fallow deer, a pair of roe deer and a pair of swans. From 1937 birds, heath sheep, guinea fowl, long-eared goats, polecats, beavers, raccoons, monkeys and a riding donkey were added, and in 1938 the town took over its running.

The park is bounded by the Steindamm to the south, west and north, by the Schwarze Elster to the southeast and by meadows to the northeast. The Polenzhaus with its gallery stands at the western entrance, the zoo lies within the park between the fortress rampart and the Schwarze Elster. Two signboards with QR codes mark a virtual tree trail set up by the NABU regional branch.

The park contains remnants of an old water mill that ground grain until the early 1900s and played a key role in the local economy. Small signs with QR codes on trees allow visitors to scan with their phones to learn about different tree species and their history.