Vienna cemetery fitness park sparks political debate

Vienna's city council found itself debating the unusual placement of fitness equipment at the Meidling cemetery, sparking a debate over the use of sacred grounds. City Councilor Peter Hacker, responsible for the burial law, argued for the sensible development of cemetery areas, noting that fewer burials are occurring.

"I find it understandable that those responsible are further developing these areas in the sense of urban use, without disturbing the solemnity," Hacker stated. He pointed to existing activities like night walks, guided tours, and even silent discos on cemetery grounds, framing the fitness equipment as a continuation of this trend seen in many European cities. Hacker also clarified that the municipal cemeteries fall under the department of his colleague Ulli Sima, who had recently presented the Meidling cemetery's redevelopment, including new walking paths and the "Silent-Fit-Bereich."

However, the initiative met with strong opposition from the FPÖ and ÖVP. FPÖ representative Lukas Brucker questioned the "nonsense" of the equipment near graves, claiming many visitors were shaking their heads. ÖVP delegate Lorenz Mayer asserted, "For us, it remains clear: cemeteries are places of remembrance, grief, and quiet. They must not be gradually transformed into recreational areas."

Barbara Huemer of the Green party, however, dismissed the outcry. "Something is being sensationalized here that is not a scandal," she remarked, suggesting that a closed restroom facility at the cemetery was a far greater concern.