RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SKATEPARK…
History and development of the skatepark at Berg Fidel, Münster
est. 1989…
The Skatepark at Berg Fidel was built in 1989 and can be considered as one of the dinosaurs of today’s skateboarding world. It is a part of skateboarding’s cultural “world heritage”. Up until 1989, we had no skatepark in Münster – a fact that needed to be changed. Titus Dittmann was set to organise the first skateboarding world Championship in Münster that same year. Titus got together with the city’s sports council and plans for a new skatepark were laid down.
At first, the council’s budget seemed too small to realise the full potential of the park’s construction plans. In order to get the park ready in time for the world championship, Titus made an offer to the city council: to self-finance the money for the skatepark. Surprisingly, the project was given the council’s go-ahead and the money for the construction became available. Under Titus’s guidance the project began and one of the best skateparks of that time time began to take shape. The park became famous because of the legendary bowl-sessions prior to the mastership weekend that are held every year at Berg Fidel. Skateboarding legends like John Cardiel, Matt Hensley, Chris Miller, Christian Hossoi and Danny Way have skated great sessions there.
22 years later, we are building again…
About five years ago the city council had the park refitted with a new layer of epoxy. They had stated that the material had been tested before and so there would be no problem. However, it certainly wasn’t tested by the skaters who use the park every day and last year the epoxy was quickly worn down again. So: it was time for something new.
In early Autumn 2008, a 13-year old local skater had the idea to collect money from all the regular skaters at the park to save money for some new paint. Everybody agreed on this idea and the snake run received a first layer of light blue (light blue to represent sea, summer etc). The city council wasn’t so happy about this because it had been done without the authorisation of the sports department. A meeting was held between the city council and some local skaters and a refitting of the skatepark was discussed in order to meet modern standards. After further negotiations, the skaters were able to get the modifications accepted by the city.
November 2010 – the reconstruction is done.
“Minus Ramps“, one of the best european park builders was chosen for the reconstruction at Berg Fidel. Under the direction of Matt Grabowski, not only a new bowl was built that connects two old segments together (the Snakerun and the Monster Bowl), but a whole new concrete park was created that is just as unique as the park was 22 years ago. During the reconstruction the famous monster bowl was also refurbished.