Ichtershausen, Urban Sports Park

In Ichtershausen, a previously unused, unkempt meadow area is being transformed into an open park for urban exercise culture. Covering an area of around 3,800 m², the facility combines three compact sports modules, an in-situ concrete skate park (565 m²), an asphalt pump track (425 m²) and a multi-court (260 m²), anchoring them naturally in the green space with clear paths, open edges and easily visible recreation areas. The aim is to provide a low-threshold, cross-generational offering that is free, open to all, and outdoors.

The sports areas form the center: the barrier-free skate park features moderate height profiles and a multi-line concept that allows for creative lines for all skill levels. The pump track complements this with flowing sequences with harmonious radii and safe progression, ideal for beginners, but also attractive for advanced riders. The multi-court with soft EPDM surfacing creates robust conditions for soccer and basketball. Visual connections between the modules, short connections, and clearly marked access points ensure orientation and conflict-free parallel use.

The quality of the experience stems from the intertwining of sport and greenery. Newly planted trees provide shade, while wind-protected covered seating areas with concrete benches and wooden seats, as well as generous green spaces around the edges, frame the activity areas. A network of easily navigable paths connects the modules and provides convenient routes for active users, accompanying persons, and the public. Open fields of vision enhance the feeling of safety and encourage informal encounters—both active and passive.

In the background, the natural drainage concept functions as an efficient, landscaped infrastructure, with careful terrain modeling, green hollows, and permeable edges retaining rainwater in a decentralized manner, improving the microclimate and biodiversity, and reducing operating costs without dominating the use or appearance of the space. This keeps the focus on sports use while noticeably increasing the ecological performance of the area.

The planning was developed in a multi-stage participatory process with local users and was consistently inclusive. The result is a clearly legible, resilient exercise area in a green setting that combines athletic intensity, visibility, and recreational value, can be used year-round, and is reliably anchored in the community.