Kaappark, where skateboarding, basketball and the city come together
Along the Maas, in the heart of Katendrecht, a former skate spot has been transformed into a new urban sports park. Not a collection of separate sports facilities, but one cohesive public space where skateboarders, basketball players, street footballers and other urban athletes share the same ground.
Kaappark is built on one conviction: urban sports do not belong behind fences or in separate zones. They emerge in the street, between people, architecture and spontaneous encounters. Designed with the local community, Kaappark brings sport, social interaction and public space together. Built for a city that is constantly on the move.
Designed with Rotterdam’s skate community
The project did not start with a first sketch, but with conversations. As part of the participation process, Nine Yards worked with the Municipality of Rotterdam, Lappset and Roffa Skate Collective to explore how the site could better respond to Rotterdam’s skate culture. By listening to the local scene and observing how the space was already being used, the design grew from the energy that was already there.
The result is an open urban plaza where skateboarding, basketball, panna and calisthenics naturally flow into one another. No hard boundaries or designated sports zones, but an urban landscape where routes cross, people meet and the public space constantly changes character.
A public space with its own character
Kaappark is more than a sports park. It is a landmark for the neighbourhood. Instead of a standard grey skatepark, the design deliberately uses a colour palette inspired by the identity of Katendrecht and its raw harbour surroundings. The result is a public space with its own distinct character, instantly recognisable to both residents and visitors.
The design contributes to placemaking: creating a place people feel connected to, where sport, social interaction and staying come together naturally. From above, the park reads as a graphic composition within the urban landscape; at street level, it unfolds as a playground of lines, routes and possibilities.
A public space designed not only to get people moving, but also to strengthen the identity of the place.
Designed with the community
From the first conversations to the final design, local skaters and users helped shape the place.
Bringing urban sports together
Skateboarding, basketball, panna and calisthenics come together in one public space, where sport and social interaction reinforce each other.
Built for movement
A park that moves with the city. Designed for everyday use, spontaneous encounters and a community that keeps growing.
Placemaking through colour
The colour palette reflects the identity of Katendrecht, making Kaappark a recognisable part of the neighbourhood.
Part of a broader urban vision
Kaappark is part of Rotterdam’s Urban Sports Agenda and Skate Masterplan: a long-term vision for a city where urban sports are a natural part of public space. Together with urban planner and skateboarder Mike van Staten, policy, design and the skate community were brought together in an integrated approach. The result is a place that encourages movement while strengthening the identity of the neighbourhood. Curious about what urban sports could bring to your area?
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