Nettetal, Skatepark

Info

Client

City of Nettetal

Opening

June 2022

Total area

625 m²

Construction budget:

285.000 €

HOAI work stages:

LP 1-8

Execution

IO Skateparks

Description

During a complete renovation initiative, the existing skate park in the town of Nettetal/Kaldenkirchen is being converted into a modern ‘state-of-the-art’ skatepark crafted with on-site concrete. The expansion brings the total size of the facility to approximately 625 square meters, thereby creating a space for movement culture and leisure-time meeting place for practitioners of skateboarding, BMX, inline skating, stunt scooters, wheelchair skating, etc. The overall aim is to provide an elevated quality of stay while significantly enhancing the functional aspects and design quality of the existing facility.

On the rectangular space, a so-called street-flow skatepark is being built in the on-site concrete construction method. In a nutshell, the street-flow design features a series of linear (street) elements, which in their type and form are based on street furniture from urban space (such as benches, railings, etc.). These elements are combined with organically shaped (transition) elements, characterized primarily by a high amount of flow for riders. The arrangement of the elements specifically aims to provide a variety of possible ride paths (lines) that can be combined with each other in a multi-line concept, thereby unlocking long-term creative usability of the skatepark. At the same time, the facility should not only be attractive for advanced users, but also provide an access point for beginners and younger people to get started in their sports. In addition, special attention was paid to the integration of a WCMX-compatible access ramp, which allows users to reach a high starting point at their own power, enabling them to ride the entire skatepark on their own.

Aside from arranging obstacles across the various areas of the facility, the visual design of the individual segments and their integration into the surrounding landscape played a central role in the design process of the facility. For this reason, the skate park area was placed at ground level along the newly designed access road to create a view-permeable and open atmosphere with a lot of recreational value. It’s worth pointing out that this concept also creates a safe environment for young users and gender-inclusive people. Benches on the north side of the park, as well as a designated user lounge area, invite users to linger and watch. To create a special local sense of identity with the skate park, accents of the town of Nettetal’s coat of arms were incorporated into the design. The flower structure of the water lily can be found on the vertical side surfaces of the park elements. The ground pattern also continues the aesthetic of water lily petals. Local basalt stone is also used on grounded edges to offer users a varied look and feel.