Mülheim a.d. Ruhr, Urban Sports Park

In Mülheim an der Ruhr, a new movement-oriented public space is being created on a previously unused site north of Sportpark Saarn, activating the location’s existing potential and expanding it with informal sports facilities. The concept combines an approximately 800 m² in-situ concrete street plaza skatepark with an approximately 450 m² asphalt pumptrack to form a coherent urban sports destination that is freely accessible, intergenerational, and suitable for a wide range of skill levels. The design is based on an intensive participation process with the local scene, whose needs and ideas were incorporated into the concept through a series of workshops.

The skatepark is designed as a street plaza with a low overall height and an open, visually permeable layout. Broadly spaced street elements and selected flow features create a multi-line system with linear, circular, and intersecting riding lines. A defining characteristic of the project is the striking design language of the space: geometric forms, pigmented concrete in differentiated shades of grey, and selectively used granite surfaces give the park a distinct identity and an authentic tactile quality. At its center, a sculptural obstacle combining bank-to-bank, hip, and ledge organizes the circulation and line distribution.

The pumptrack complements the scheme with a dynamic, low-threshold riding landscape at the entrance to the site. Accessed via a wide table, it develops into a varied loop with bumps, jumps, tables, and flyouts. Its open line structure allows for intuitive first rides as well as more creative use when the track is less crowded. New tree planting, modeled embankments, and green peripheral zones naturally integrate both parts of the facility into the setting of the sports park, creating a movement space that coherently brings together sport and a high quality of stay.