The initiator of the Skulpturenpark Köln was the art collector Dr. Michael Stoffel, who together with his wife Dr. Eleonore Stoffel, launched the park in 1997. In the same year, the Gesellschaft der Freunde des Skulpturenparks Köln e.V. Cologne was founded, which to the present day has promoted and supported the Skulpturenpark Köln.
The previous exhibitions KölnSkulptur 1–4 (1997, 1999, 2001, 2007) have already showcased over a half a century of modern and contemporary sculpture. Accompanying the anniversary exhibition KölnSkulptur 4 was the publication of a comprehensive catalogue, documenting the over 70 outdoor sculptures by internationally-acclaimed artists. And in 2009 with KölnSkulptur 5 a collection of new works has been unveiled in the Park to the public.
A debt of gratitude is owed to the Gesellschaft der Freunde des Skulpturenparks Köln e.V. for their endeavours in ensuring that significant outdoor sculptures have been made available to the Park on a permanent basis, including works by Bonnie Collura, Bogomir Ecker, Jenny Holzer, Stefan Kern, Jorge Pardo, Joel Shapiro and Mauro Staccioli. For KölnSkulptur 5 it has, amongst others, generously supported the erection of the work "Reaktor" by Dirk Skreber.
