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Hamburg Stadtpark, the second-largest park in Hamburg, is situated in the Winterhude district in the northern part of the city. Opened in 1914, it is one of Hamburg's first public parks, designed as an informal and democratic public space, and serves as such till today. During and after the Second World War, Stadtpark became a place of refuge and sustenance for the people of Hamburg. During the war, several barrack camps for forced labourers were set up around and within the park. During the harsh post-war winters, Nissen huts were constructed in the Stadtpark for Hamburg residents who had lost their homes. Trees in the park were felled for firewood, and some citizens grew vegetables in the park to feed themselves.

The Stadtpark consists of various natural areas, including woods, meadows and water. On a macro level, it plays an important role in Hamburg's ecosystem. On a micro level, each of these areas is interconnected and forms its own habitat for various species. The Stadtpark Verein Hamburg, which is committed to the maintenance and development of the Stadtpark, has been running a special project called Ecology in the Stadtpark since 2014. Through various participatory activities, dedicated volunteers have worked to create, maintain and protect diverse habitats in the park. The Stadtpark Verein and the collective ars eco lab organise guided tours to get to know the trees, mushrooms and other species that live in the Stadtpark.

More than twenty different sculptures can be found throughout the park. Near the children's paddling pool, visitors may come across a mythical gargoyle creature - a water sculpture designed for children's play. This piece is a 1994 replica of an original bronze sculpture created in 1930 by the German-Jewish artist Richard Heizmann. The original sculpture disappeared from the playground in 1937 and was supposedly melted down to be repurposed for the war effort. The Nazis labelled it 'degenerate art' and its replica from the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe toured various German cities from 1938 to 1941 as part of the exhibition 'Entartete Kunst', where it was denounced in the exhibition catalogue.

Today Stadtpark is visited by almost half a million people per year. The whole park and particularly its large meadow known as the Liegewiese (sunbathing lawn), is used as a space for diverse communities, neighbors, families, and friends to come together. In this sense, Stadtpark can be seen as a Third Space in line with the Third Space Theory from postcolonial social and urban studies—an informal, hybrid environment that exists beyond the boundaries of domestic and formal public spheres. It serves as a space where individuals can come together and connect, with and despite their differences and shared experiences.

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