Rabalder Park in Roskilde, Denmark, has a rainwater harvesting system that can store up to 23,000 cubic meters of h2o - that's the equivalent of 10 swimming pools! In addition to the usual amenities such as swings, trampolines, jogging and cycling trails, the park also features a huge concrete skate park. Rabalder Park is fully integrated into the local water canal system and built to hold rainwater in the event of flooding. This amazing urban design was recently selected as a finalist for the 2013 Index: Award.
Designed by Danish firm Nordarch, Rabalder Park combines its drainage function with recreation, offering the city inhabitants lots of hang-out, grill and dancing areas, fitness and parkour equipment and a huge skate park. The entire complex, including a large skate park, is fully integrated into the existing water canal system that stretches through a series of hills and brings the rain water to the adjacent lake.
The park is a part of a larger area called MUSICON, which is currently under development. The concrete factories and storage facilities of Roskilde will be replaced with housing areas, office spaces, schools, art studios, a Rock museum and an indoor skate park. The development will also contain a large facility dedicated to collecting rainwater from the adjacent city areas.
Rabalder Park won the Danish Town Planning Prize in 2012 and was nominated as finalist in this year’s Index: Awards.
