New swimming pool Athletes in Bonn campaign for Wasserland pool

Bonn · Clubs use “Run of Reason” to inform passersby in the city centre about the new Wasserland pool to be built in Bonn.

Bonn’s city centre is by no means a suitable spot for running meets, especially not on a sunny Saturday. The runners winding their way through passersby were on their way to various Bonn swimming pools. They were taking part in the “Run of Reason”, being carried out by the city swimming association and the city sport association, to make the case for a “no” vote in the local referendum on the Wasserland pool. A majority of “yes” votes would mean the end of the new building.

50 participants started from the information stand on Münsterplatz, where Ute Pilger, chair of the city swimming association, was endeavouring to explain the Wasserland project to people and to point out that it would not only be a fun pool, but one for all user groups. She also wanted to clear up false information, which in her opinion was deliberately being spread by opponents of the pool: namely that if the Wasserland pool is not built, the money would instead be used to renovate the old pools. This would first require new council decisions. A majority of Bonn residents rejected the rescue of the Kurfürstenbad in a local referendum in 2017.

“Afraid the city is miscalculating.”

One passerby was sceptical about Wasserland. “I’m afraid that the city is miscalculating again.” City districts would also be increasingly disadvantaged. As the mother of an autistic boy, she was interested in accessibility – the favourite topic of Sylvia Janicke of the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG), who was explaining to her about the guidance system and optical-acoustic alarm signals for the visually and hearing impaired at the new pool. “That always falls to the back of the queue,” she said. Swimming is also about quality of life for people with disabilities and for senior citizens.

“We need this pool,” said Steve Selthoffer. However, the American swim coach and sports journalist, who lives in Bonn, has some objections to the concept. He was critical that there would be two 25 metre pools instead of one 50 metre pool, the latter being the better solution for training and competitions. And you could also divide this pool. To achieve this, you could do without two smaller learning pools. Selthoffer was surprised that the sauna area, rather than changing rooms, is directly behind the main entrance area.

However, the concept is based on an extensive citizens’ participation process undertaken by the public utilities company, as builder and operator. Ute Pilger emphasised that citizens had requested this multi-function concept so that clubs and schools could swim in parallel undisturbed.

(Original text: Stefan Knopp / Translation: kc)

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