Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Leuven city council plans to renovate two skate parks, investing €800,000, with local skaters involved in the design. Alderman David Dessers emphasizes community collaboration as essential for effective planning.
The Leuven city council has decided to hire a contractor to manage and improve the city’s two skate parks, working closely with local skaters. The skaters will be involved in the planning process from the start, helping to choose the features and facilities they want. This collaboration aims to create parks that meet the skaters’ needs, allowing them to practice their favorite tricks in spaces designed just for them.
How will Leuven involve skaters in designing €800K skate parks?
According to Alderman David Dessers, skaters will help design the parks, allowing them to decide how everything looks and works. By including the local skating community, Leuven wants to create a feeling of ownership and involvement, making the parks better for those who use them often. It has been said that it shows the city’s dedication to working with the community and making sure the parks fit the needs of the skaters.
According to Vansina Leuven needs new skate parks because skating is now very popular. He mentioned that the skate park at the Philips site is 20 years old and needs to be replaced. The covered area at the Stelplaats will be expanded to create more space for skating and learning. Some walls will be knocked down for this, but the planned nightclub will not be affected. The city will invest 800,000 euros to renovate both parks and work is expected to start in early 2026. Plans will be made in the coming months with help from the skate community.
