Start for the new schoolyard

The redesign is part of the integrated urban development concept for Neubeckum town centre (ISEK Neubeckum). The aim is to create an attractive, multifunctional neighbourhood square with recreational, sports and play areas.

Mayor Michael Gerdhenrich emphasised at the official ground-breaking ceremony: "This great measure as part of the ISEK should also offer a high quality of stay in the neighbourhood." He thanked all those involved in the project and was delighted that the green oasis with a wide range of facilities was now being realised.

In September 2022, it was the pupils' turn first. They visualised their wishes for the new school playground in a collage. This formed the basis for the design, which took into account aspects such as learning and recreational qualities as well as play and exercise opportunities. The young people wanted a green oasis with seating in the centre of the schoolyard, a lockable football pitch, a dribbling cage, table tennis tables and raised beds as a boundary to Turmstrasse.

The landscape architecture firm "plant Landschaftsarchitektur Melanie Pottebaum" from Bünde was then commissioned with the planning. Melanie Pottebaum integrated the pupils' wishes into the design. The centrepiece is a green classroom in the form of a platform garden with lawn and seating walls. The football pitch will be realised as a publicly accessible mini playing field with a water-permeable synthetic surface measuring 30 x 15 metres. An area with table tennis tables will be created between the green classroom and the south-west façade of the old school building.

Turmstrasse will be designed as a meeting point with raised beds and benches to improve the quality of the area and strengthen identification with the neighbourhood. A covered bicycle parking area will also be created in the traffic-calmed area.

In April 2023, the designs were presented and discussed at an information event. The unsealing of large areas and the careful handling of the existing trees were emphasised positively. The new mini playing field and climate adaptation through the selection of suitable tree species were also well received.

As part of the construction work, the drainage pipes in the schoolyard will also be renovated and connected to the recently constructed combined sewer in Turmstraße.

Completion is scheduled for the end of August. The total costs (planning and construction) amount to around 1,150,000 euros. The city of Beckum is expected to receive 60 per cent of the total costs for the redesign in the form of urban development funding from the federal and state governments.

Rosa Parks Comprehensive School
Rosa Parks Comprehensive School is an inter-municipal school run by the towns of Beckum and Ennigerloh. The school authority is the Beckum-Ennigerloh school association. The school site in Neubeckum is currently attended by 511 pupils in years 5 to 10.