Skateparks under the magnifying glass | Düsseldorf-Eller

"Eller: an innovative and versatile park! You really need some time to enjoy all the skate obstacles it has to offer!" - Alex Ring

One possible motive that could have influenced communities to take skatepark construction more seriously is the increasing number of DIY skatepark projects being created around Germany. These projects show communities the importance of providing quality skate areas that are catered to the specific needs of skateboarders. In addition, they show how deeply that skateboarders care for their skate spaces. These DIY projects have even provided planning, design, and construction experience for an increasing number of skatepark construction companies appearing in Germany. Yamato Living Ramps, Minus Ramps, DSGN CONCEPTS, and Anker Skateboard Ramps are all examples of skater-owned skatepark construction firms who are finding increasing success within Germany. Many new parks utilize concrete constructions, enabling every park to become unique in it’s own right and capable of offering something truly desirable for skaters for many years to come.

Enter Düsseldorf-Eller. In early 2017, rumors began to spread that Germany's largest skate park was to be built in Düsseldorf. The park was planned to cover 3800 sqm. When the first excavators arrived in May of last year, the rumors were confirmed. The opening date was initially set for 16.12.2017. However, early frosts caused park construction to delay in December; but at least the park had taken shape.

Nevertheless, the park construction took another half a year. I can't for certain what caused this time frame, but creating a park of this caliber certainly takes time and it’s absolutely necessary that it’s done correct the first time. One construction obstacle was actually just the nearby trees. As Donald Campbell put it bluntly, “little crap was always falling out of the trees onto the park, requiring constant sweeping until a ‘net’ solution was provided for under the trees”. Even small details can make a big difference.

"When I first arrived to the park, the sheer size was astonishing! There aren’t so many big parks in my area. The bowl section is huge and looks fun, even if transition isn’t really my style. But the street course is super fun to skate! Excellent lines and the design seems comparable to top parks in the United States" - Dominic Wenzel

It wasn’t easy for the Düsseldorf locals to get a park like this. For 11 years, the "Sports City Düsseldorf" fought for a park that was large enough and sufficiently constructed for a national or even international skateboarding event. This idea happens to go quite well with something on a lot of skaters minds right now – the Olympics. It just so happens that Düsseldorf local and likely 2020 Olympic Skateboarding competitor Lenni Janssen lives nearby. Such factors are a real driving force behind funding for such an ambitious project by the city of Düsseldorf.

"The park is super nice! Perfectly smooth concrete and everything is well-shaped." - Josh Junkes

Skateboarding in the Olympics is currently a controversial topic among the skateboarding community. Terms like “Sports City, Olympia, and Training Center” are enough to keep some skaters away. Many skaters believe that Olympic skateboarding does not embrace the core values of freedom that skating is rooted in. At the Düsseldorf park, you will find security and there were even officials telling others not to take photos on the opening day. I was personally concerned about whether I could even drink a beer or smoke a cigarette there, but I can’t confirm whether this is allowed or not. Unfortunately, such a big park also attracts a big crowd. With a big crowd, you can’t expect them to be all skaters… I can imagine that especially on Saturdays and Sundays, skaters must prepare for a crowd of scooters and BMX bikes. Even during our visit, the bottom of the bowl was often filled with scooters and bikes, making it nearly impossible for skateboarders to skate the new bowl. Who knows, maybe Lenni can issue a formal complaint that he “can’t train for the Olympics with the park like this”. It’s probably a dream, but maybe the on-site security could at least prevent kids from standing at the bottom of the bowl.

Don’t be discouraged by the last paragraph, the park itself is still truly awesome. The fact that there is no entrance fee is just that much cooler and leaves little room to complain. When we arrived with some Titus Shop riders for this check-out on Monday afternoon, the number of scooters/bikes was actually pretty limited. As the day progressed, more and more people came, but fortunately most of them with skateboards. Due to the size of the park, however, there’s quite a lot of skating space to go around which is certainly nice. Another awesome plus is the water fountain flowing fresh water, which has definitely saved a few skaters from dying of thirst. A lighting system also keeps the session going into the night and the location at Schlosspark Eller is far enough away from residential areas to keep the noise down for the locals.

"It’s not just the biggest skatepark in Germany, it’s also one of the best! It has perfectly combined street, line, and bowl sections." - Thilo Nawrocki

"I’m in love with the park, especially since it’s my new local park! Everyone should come check it out, there’s definitely enough space!" - Kalle Zollino