Mendrisio Skatepark: New Recreation Park with Parkour and Street Workout
With the new recreation park on the Al-Macello site, the city of Mendrisio, together with Vertical Technik AG, has created a versatile public space for movement. The facility combines a concrete skatepark, a parkour course, and a street workout area at a single location.
The project was developed in close cooperation with young people, local associations, the building department, and other specialists. Following several workshops, political processes, and the granting of the building permit, construction work began in 2024. The facility was completed and handed over to the city of Mendrisio in the summer of 2025.
Concrete Skatepark with Street and Flow Elements
The new concrete skatepark offers diverse riding options for different experience levels. A wide mini ramp transitions directly into the street area, allowing for fluid lines between the various elements.
Special features include a China Bank with a red brick pattern, which creates a characteristic rattling sound when ridden. High-quality granite surfaces on the ledges provide ideal conditions for slides and grinds.
Additional elements such as a round rail, banks, transitions, and an extra extension open up numerous possibilities for technical tricks and creative lines.
Versatile Concrete Parkour Facility
The parkour facility consists of robust concrete elements with sandblasted surfaces and varying heights. Walls, inclined planes, and metal bars enable versatile movement sequences – from precise landings and powerful jumps to swinging and climbing.
The entire training area is equipped with an EPDM rubber safety surface. A human flag pole expands the range of equipment and can also be used for pole and strength exercises.
Outdoor Street Workout and Calisthenics
The street workout facility is based on the Arial Light set and offers various elements for strength and bodyweight training. These include monkey bars, high bars, a ladder, a human flag bar, and two push-up bars.
This area was also equipped with an EPDM safety surface. The facility thus provides suitable conditions for calisthenics, functional strength training, and varied bodyweight exercises outdoors.
Opening of the Recreation Park in September 2025
The new facility was officially inaugurated on September 5 and 6, 2025. The program combined sports, culture, and music with various offerings for the public.
Friday’s program featured the official opening, skate shows by Momò Skateboarding, and the preview of the RSI documentary “Skate Borders – Stories of Skaters in Italian-speaking Switzerland.”
Saturday followed with free skateboard lessons for children, parkour and street workout shows, a skateboard contest, as well as street food and music. A concert by Ticino rapper Mattak concluded the festivities.
Impressions from the Opening
Developed Together with Youth and Associations
The participation of future users played a central role in the planning. Young people, associations, social workers, the city police, planners, and other specialists contributed their experience and needs to the project.
The result is a recreation park that combines three modern sports:
- Skateboarding for tricks, grinds, and creative lines
- Parkour for movement, acrobatics, and coordination
- Street workout for strength training using your own body weight
Through this combination, the facility caters to different age groups, sports, and experience levels.
From Unused Site to Public Meeting Point
The former slaughterhouse site “ex Macello” underwent many years of transformation. From 2013 to 2020, part of the site was used as a construction area for the new emergency center.
As part of a youth study, the idea emerged to develop the site long-term as a public space for youth, cultural, and sporting activities. The first discussions for the project took place as early as 2018.
After numerous meetings, designs, and workshops, the planning phase was completed in 2024. Within a construction period of around ten months, the former transitional site was transformed into a vibrant meeting point for sports, culture, and social interaction.
Insights into the Construction Phase
The photos provide a glimpse into the development of the Al-Macello site.
Thanks to the Project Partners
Vertical Technik AG would like to thank the city of Mendrisio for the trust placed in us and the excellent cooperation.
Special thanks go to:
- architects Tommaso and Mario Botta · LinkedIn
- Andrea Magni from the Brenni engineering office
- Mitka Fontana and Martin Muntaner from the Mendrisio building administration
- the participating youth, associations, and specialists
Location
Al Macello recreation area
Via Franco Zorzi
6850 Mendrisio
