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Straussee outdoor pool celebrates 100 years - but remains closed!
The Straussee outdoor swimming pool in Strausberg, Märkisch-Oderland, is celebrating 100 years, but the reopening remains uncertain.
Straussee outdoor pool celebrates 100 years - but remains closed!
On Friday, the Straussee outdoor swimming pool in Strausberg (Märkisch-Oderland) is celebrating a remarkable anniversary: 100 years since its opening. But while the celebrations are planned for July 26th, the reality for bathing enthusiasts is currently different. Due to a lack of funding, the outdoor pool cannot yet reopen, although a partial opening was planned for this summer. The renovation work, which has so far cost 1.4 million euros, is far from complete and the final cost is uncertain. The outdoor pool was closed six years ago, largely due to worryingly low water levels, which pose a safety risk, particularly for non-swimmers. The work to make the bank area usable has already been postponed to 2030.
A look at financing reveals the dilemma that many outdoor swimming pools find themselves in. As rbb24 reports, the reopening date of the lido is still uncertain. Although the boat rental service will soon reopen, swimming remains prohibited. The city is still planning smaller tours of the site in July to give citizens the opportunity to get to know the outdoor pool, even if a jump into the cool water still has to wait.
Current challenges in the outdoor swimming pool sector
A survey by ZDF shows that many open-air swimming pools throughout Germany urgently need to be renovated. Over a third of operators will be confronted with this issue in the next five years. 88 percent of operators perceive the financial need to be high, but the funding is often perceived as inadequate. The German Life Saving Society also warned that without comprehensive renovations, hundreds of public pools could be closed. And this at a time when the recreational landscape is of great importance for many people.
However, there is a positive example from the Cobbelsdorf district of Coswig, where the outdoor swimming pool has been open again since mid-May 2023 after partial renovation. These were financed with costs of 97,000 euros and part of the funding from the EU amounting to 53,000 euros. Mayor Axel Clauß emphasizes how important the outdoor pool is for the community, and the first sunny days have already attracted almost 400 bathers. Those responsible are planning further improvements for the coming year to increase the attractiveness of the pool. At a time when the pool landscape is in danger, this investment shows that things can work differently.
Bathrooms as part of the quality of life
The outdoor swimming pool in Cobbelsdorf, with its 500 square meters of water area and leisure activities such as beach volleyball, not only plays a positive role in the region, but could also be an example for other communities that are struggling with similar challenges. After all, the majority of swimming pools in Germany are viewed as municipal public services, and the need to maintain these facilities is clear. Association boss Ingbert Liebing emphasizes the need to permanently increase the existing programs to promote the pools in order to secure them for the future.
The situation at the Straussee outdoor pool and the developments in Cobbelsdorf show how different the challenges and opportunities are in outdoor pool renovation. It remains to be seen whether the outdoor pool in Strausberg can be reopened in time for the celebrations and what political help will look like to support the pool landscape in Brandenburg and beyond.