Hamburg is investing 100 million euros in new swimming pools!

Hamburg is investing 100 million euros in new swimming pools!

A fresh wind blows through Hamburg's swimming area. The SPD and Green factions are strongly committed to setting up a user advisory board in order to significantly improve the Hanseatic city's swimming infrastructure. On December 10th, the citizens will vote on how to proceed with this proposal, which can also be seen as an answer to numerous challenges in swimming culture. The need is obvious: Swimming is not only a leisure activity, but also an integral part of the school curriculum in Hamburg.

“We want to bring together the technical expertise from the clubs and associations, the spa area and the authorities,” explains Aske Freter from the Greens, emphasizing the benefits of such a committee. The SPD's sports policy spokeswoman, Juliane Timmermann, also supports the proposal and emphasizes the importance of early planning and transparent communication. A user advisory board could act as an advisory body and cover important infrastructure needs that must be taken into account in new construction and modernization, without neglecting regular water times.

Investments for the future

The plans are ambitious: a total of 100 million euros are planned for the construction of new swimming pools in Hamburg-Hamm, Oberbillwerder and Fischbeker Reethen. “Every primary school-age child in Hamburg should receive a free learning opportunity to swim,” says the applications, which aim to ensure that every child can swim safely at the end of primary school. In addition, the aim is to expand the water times for swimming clubs, children's swimming and rehabilitation sports.

The importance of this initiative is also reflected in the numbers: Since 2011, Hamburg has invested over 1.1 billion euros in sports infrastructure. Bäderland Hamburg GmbH, as the largest provider of leisure activities in the city, has built eight new pools since 1995 and is continually investing in stadiums and swimming facilities. The planned investment volume in swimming infrastructure will be around 100 million euros by 2028.

A few challenges remain

Unfortunately, there have been swimming accidents in the past, most recently at the Süderelbe swimming pool, where children were injured due to inadequate supervision. These incidents highlight the need for improved supervision and safety at the pools.

In addition, preparations for the conversion of the former Aschbergbad continue. After the necessary soil compaction and the clearance of explosive ordnance have been completed, new sports facilities can be built there. A district sports center is being planned, which will not only offer a new swimming pool but also a wide range of sports and leisure opportunities.

The citizens of Hamburg can be curious to see how the prospects for swimming develop. With a user advisory board on hand and the planned new buildings, Hamburg will certainly become an even more attractive place for swimmers and sports enthusiasts of all ages.

Information about ongoing projects can also be found in the updates from NDR, SPD Hamburg and Hamburg.de.