Open Statement from the Local Community of MBU Skatepark, Berlin

We are writing to express deep concern and disappointment regarding a recent meeting held by Skateboard Verein Berlin concerning proposed changes to MBU Skatepark besides leaving behind a lot of people out of this meeting. This meeting was organized without proper notice or consultation with the local community—those who actively use, care for, and help shape the spirit of this space daily. A social media post does not equate to transparent community outreach, especially when the attendees consisted largely of individuals unconnected to the park’s core community.

The current proposal reportedly involves plans to spend over half a million euros on redesigning the park. While investment in public skate spaces is welcome in principle, the approach taken in this case raises serious issues. The proposed changes do not reflect the real needs or voices of the local MBU community—many of whom were never consulted or even informed.

MBU is more than just a skatepark. It is an inclusive, internationally recognized safe space where beginners, marginalized individuals, families with children and those who feel disconnected from the broader Berlin skate scene can come together. It is a unique hub of togetherness, creativity, and grassroots inspiration—values that risk being lost under top-down planning that prioritizes funding opportunities over the well-being of the people who rely on this space.

The reality is that MBU does not need a complete transformation. It simply needs thoughtful renovations on some obstacles but not taken away, no needed to remove for that and selective improvements around—changes that can be co-created with the people who know and love this space. Importantly, such renovations do not require shutting down the park for months or years, as the current proposal might.

It is disheartening that while many grassroots organizations struggle to secure basic funding from the German government, this project was able to access a large sum with little community engagement. The outcome risks destroying what makes MBU special for so many.

We also want to highlight the important cultural projects that MBU has helped nurture—such as Streetzine, initiated by Sergej Vutuc, and supported by members of the community. Celebrations, hangouts, and open sessions have all contributed to a strong and inclusive environment that transcends skateboarding as a sport. MBU has become a space for connection and belonging.

If the decision-makers had approached the locals with transparency and respect, we would have gladly collaborated to create a community-led plan for renovation and renewal. Unfortunately, many of us do not feel represented by the Verein due to a lack of inclusivity and accessibility in their structures.

We are calling for the creation of a new, open, and inclusive meeting—one that involves all community members and is planned with sufficient notice. We urge decision-makers to pause the current process and take the time to truly understand what this space means to the people who use it every day.

For many of us, MBU is the reason we are still in Berlin. This is not just about athletic progress—it’s about community, identity, and shared space.

Let’s do this together, 

— The Local Community of MBU Skatepark

UPDATE: 

Follow-Up on the MBU Skatepark Petition
We want to extend our deepest thanks for the strong and swift support we’ve received in response to our petition—gathering over 300 signatures in under 24 hours. This overwhelming response shows just how much MBU means to so many people across Berlin and beyond.

To clarify: this petition is not against change. We recognize that MBU is in need of renovation soon as possible. What we are asking for is better communication, more inclusive planning, and transparent, more well communicated open meetings where all members of the community—not just a few—can be involved in shaping the future of this vital space.

We appreciate that BSV.1 has taken initiative regarding the city’s classification of MBU as a space at risk but stepped forward already, they knew before all this. However, this does not mean they automatically speak for all of us. When a large-scale project, reportedly funded with over half a million euros, is proposed without clear input from those who use the space daily, not really hearing comments from the few locals presence and instauring a vote system as some been present at this meeting, it raises serious concerns.

Had we been properly informed about the city’s stance and the urgency of the situation, many of us would have gladly contributed with alternative renovation ideas next to theirs as a first meeting, technical input, and community-led proposals. The current approach has left many locals feeling excluded and unrepresented.

We are also concerned by the messaging recently reposted by BSV.1, specifically the statement: “If you don’t participate, don’t complain.” This oversimplifies the reality and ignores the many valid reasons why some locals have not engaged with BSV.1 in the past—particularly due to issues of inclusivity, accessibility, and lack of representation. This kind of language is not helpful, and to many, it feels dismissive and divisive.

We are currently working on a collective community letter that reflects the diverse voices and perspectives of those who deeply care about MBU. We hope that both BSV.1 and the City of Berlin will listen with openness and take our concerns into account going forward.

This is not just about skateboarding or the "shitty" skatepark in neukolln. MBU is a community, a safe space, and a home for many who have not found belonging in other parts of the Berlin skate scene, as we repeat again. Let’s work together to protect what makes this place so special, and to build its future with the community—not without it.

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