New sports hall strengthens club and school sports in Lowick

With the grand opening of the new gymnasium on Eichenallee on the grounds of the SF 97/30 Lowick e. V. club, the Lowick district of Bocholt is getting a modern sports facility for schools and clubs. The hall replaces the Elsenpass gymnasium, which was destroyed by fire in August 2021. The hall has now been inaugurated as part of a ceremony with representatives from the administration, politics and Sportfreunde Lowick.

The new building was realised by the city of Bocholt in collaboration with Mischo Projekt GmbH. The turnkey realisation in general contractor construction enabled a rapid construction process within one year - from the building permit in May 2024 to completion in July 2025. The hall was financed by the fire protection insurance of the gymnasium at Elsenpass. At the opening ceremony, Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff emphasised the importance of the hall for school and club sports in Bocholt and particularly highlighted the reliable cooperation between all those involved.

"Two of the things you wish for in buildings have been achieved here: it was completed on time and also stayed on budget", said Kerkhoff. This is thanks to the particularly good co-operation between the parties involved.

In addition to being used by St Bernhard primary school and Bocholt's day-care centres, the hall is also available to Bocholt's clubs. A particular focus is on the sports of taekwondo and apparatus gymnastics. The new hall has the appropriate equipment and was designed in close consultation with the club. Architectural requests from the club, such as large window fronts, were also incorporated into the planning.

At the opening ceremony, architect Thomas Mischo expressed his pride in the successful realisation of the project, which stands as an example of efficient and cooperative partnership between the public sector and private contractors. From the city's point of view, the compact planning and construction period as well as the extensive cost framework emphasise the advantages of the chosen form of implementation.

At the end of the event, members of the taekwondo department of the SF 97/30 Lowick club gave a demonstration of their skills. "Sport needs space - and with this new hall, we are offering children, young people and the clubs in Lowick precisely this space under modern conditions", says First City Councillor Björn Volmering.