Transforming a Brownfield into a Concrete Paradise: The Story of Oxhey Activity Park

In the heart of Watford, Hertfordshire, lies one of the most innovative environments for wheeled sports and play in Europe. Officially opened in September 2020, Oxhey Activity Park has quickly cemented its reputation as a premier destination for skaters, BMX riders, and families alike. But the journey from a redundant, waterlogged Gaelic football pitch to an award-winning community hub was no small feat.

Vision and Investment

The transformation of this brownfield site was spearheaded by the Watford Borough Council, driven by a vision to create a space that encourages physical activity for all ages, genders, and abilities. The project represented a significant investment in the community, with the overall park regeneration costing between £4.2 million and £4.6 million, and the specific activity park build valued at £3.6 million.

To bring this ambitious vision to life, the council assembled a powerhouse team. Southern Green Architects stepped in as the lead consultant and landscape architect, ensuring the park integrated seamlessly with its natural surroundings. For the wheeled sports facilities, they collaborated with Freestyle Skateparks, a highly respected name in UK skatepark design. Finally, Borras Construction Ltd was brought on as the main contractor to turn the blueprints into concrete reality. Despite a brief construction halt in April 2020 due to the global pandemic, the team rallied to open the doors to the public by the autumn of that year.

"Oxhey Activity Park was designed to be one of the most innovative environments for wheeled sports and play in Europe, transforming a neglected space into a vibrant community asset."

A Skater’s Concrete Dream

What truly sets Oxhey Activity Park apart is its bespoke, multi-disciplinary design. Rather than a single, monolithic skate bowl, the park is divided into distinct zones that cater to everyone from absolute beginners learning to balance, to professional riders perfecting complex tricks.

The core of the facility is an expansive, interconnected concrete wonderland consisting of a Flow Park, Plaza, and Pumpscape. This area is packed with street-style sections, smooth transitions, jump boxes, and deep bowls, making it a versatile playground for skateboards, scooters, and inline skates. Surrounding the concrete jungle is a dedicated off-road BMX and mountain bike dirt track, ensuring that off-road cycling enthusiasts have a specialized perimeter to ride.

Community integration is also a major focus here. The addition of the ABC Skateboarding Hub provides a crucial space for local groups to run coaching sessions, rent out gear, and teach young riders how to maintain and repair their equipment.

Beyond the Board: Amenities and Ecology

Oxhey Activity Park was never meant to be just a skatepark; it was designed as a holistic community destination. For younger visitors, a state-of-the-art, accessible adventurous play area features sensory equipment. Visitors looking to relax can visit the Tasty Bean Café. Clad in sustainable Siberian Larch and topped with a green roof, the café offers a riverside terrace that serves as a perfect viewing gallery for the action below. Active recreation extends beyond wheels, with outdoor table tennis, a Beryl Bike share station, and integrated walking and cycling routes that connect directly to National Cycle Route 6.

Building such a massive facility came with unique environmental challenges. Because the site sits within a sensitive flood zone and directly above a public aquifer along the River Colne, the developers had to implement meticulous soil and drainage management strategies. Rather than harming the local ecology, the project actively improved it. Over 500 new trees were planted across the site, alongside drought-resistant plants and lush wildflower meadows to boost local biodiversity. The café itself is a model of green engineering, utilizing air-source heat pumps, high airtightness, and natural ventilation.

Award-Winning Impact

The careful balance of world-class sporting facilities and strict environmental stewardship has not gone unnoticed. In 2021, Oxhey Activity Park swept up major industry accolades, winning the Landscape Institute Award for Excellence in Public Health and Wellbeing, as well as the Building Futures Award for Project of the Year in Special Landscape Design. Today, the park stands as a shining example of how thoughtful urban regeneration can breathe new life into a community.

Check out Oxhey Activity park on our skate map.