Park City municipalities working together on Urban Sports & Culture

With the help of an "Urban Parkstad Scan," the main players will be Map and needs will be collected on topics such as infrastructure, ongoing activities, events and how communication is going within the urban domain, as well as towards public stakeholders. The municipalities of Heerlen, Kerkrade, Beekdaelen, Brunssum, Voerendaal and Simpelveld are participating.

"Throughout Park City, we see that more attention is needed for young people between the ages of 13 and 24. Urban Sports & Culture fits perfectly with the movement we all want to make toward a vital living environment and growing up healthy and promising. That includes sports, but also social connection and being creative," said Kerkrade Alderman Jo Schlangen (Sports and Culture). "Urban athletes and creators typify our creative region. All kinds of things are happening in this area and we therefore have ambitions to invest in facilities. A good time to conduct a region-wide scan to get an even better picture," said Heerlen Alderman Martin de Beer.

Urban Sports & Culture
Urban Sports & Culture includes disciplines such as skateboarding, freerun, BMX, hip hop, dance ánd music, graffiti and more. Disciplines with a different character than classical sports and leisure activities in clubs. Sports, culture, lifestyle and social connection are all connected in the urban lifestyle.

The project
This practical research and liaison project gathers and shares needs and knowledge with public and urban stakeholders in the Parkstad region. From a common preventive interest, we look for opportunities and possibilities in terms of infrastructure, activities and organization. Through the cooperation and policy alignment between different municipal departments (e.g. sports, culture, youth, infrastructure) and social stakeholders (e.g. sports services, cultural organizations, music venues) we make more possible. And we pull together locally and regionally to strengthen the entire urban sports and culture scene in Parkstad.

Forecast
By the end of 2023, the exploration should be completed so that we have insight into the urban target group. Starting in 2024, we will share and leverage this knowledge to provide better support, strengthen our youth and collectively build a thriving Park City region with a vibrant urban sports and culture scene.

Your help is needed!
Sander Baartmans of the urban research agency "LINES by CityLegends" is spearheading the process with support from the Vie Innovatie Hub Kerkrade and would like to invite you into this journey. If you know an interesting urban initiative, know or are a stakeholder, please let us know. Feel free to forward this to sander.baartmans@citylegends.nl!