Bergisch Gladbach, Urban Sports Park

A versatile exercise area has been created in the green space of the Saaler Mühle, combining the natural surroundings with urban, informal sports facilities and directly connecting to the Otto Hahn School. At its heart is a 725 m² skate park made of in-situ concrete and a compact multi-court (approx. 20 × 13 m) with surrounding barriers and green EPDM surfacing. This proximity makes it possible to seamlessly integrate school formats such as the open all-day school (OGS) with public offerings – from supervised exercise modules to scene-related projects – while continuing to provide free, cross-generational access and inclusive usability (including WCMX).

The sports concept was developed in user workshops and refined to meet specific needs. The skate park follows a clearly graded street flow layout: a two-stage structure organizes lines and speeds; bump-to-rail/downrail, bank-to-slappy, flatbar, varying ledges, slappy curb, and a round manual pad/speed bump create dense, creative sequences. A centrally located volcano forms the hub; opposite, a compact mini-ramp section with a bowl corner and two hips creates additional transitions. An integrated ramp provides barrier-free access to the upper levels and opens up independent riding paths for WCMX. The multi-court complements the facilities for streetball and small-scale games (e.g., 4-vs-4 formats); on-demand lighting extends the window of use during the dark season.

In terms of landscape architecture, the facility blends naturally into the green park landscape: newly planted trees, strips of meadow, and gently contoured border structures frame the sports areas; permeable edges, clear sightlines, and seating edges with wooden covers create an overview, a pleasant atmosphere, and comfortable viewing conditions with local recreational value. The result is a green exercise hub at the Saaler Mühle that intelligently combines school and public use and provides a diverse, robust range of activities in a natural setting.