In Vysočina, new sports facilities will be added if the union is generous

Football stadium in Jihlava (photo Štěpán Vrzala)

Jihlava - A number of municipal offices in the Vysočina region are planning the construction of new sports facilities and the reconstruction of outdated stadiums. Construction work will only begin if these projects are partially financed by the union; the cities do not want to embark on projects costing tens of millions of crowns on their own. As today's poll by ČTK revealed, swimming pools could benefit Žďár nad Sázavou and two cities in the Havlíčkův Brod region, thanks to Brussels. Náměšť nad Oslavou is ready to build a complex with a covered winter stadium and a multipurpose hall.
    "Infrastructure for sports and culture is among the most frequently planned projects by cities," said Erika Šteflová from the regional council office. This office oversees European grants for regional development that municipalities can apply for starting this year.
    Světlá nad Sázavou wants to use EU funds to modernize its winter stadium. The sports facility, which until recently belonged to the hockey club, was taken over by the municipality for this purpose. The reconstruction is planned in two phases and is expected to cost a total of 60 million crowns; the municipality will apply for a grant this month. "We would like to transform the stadium into a multifunctional facility that can be used year-round," explained the plan by Deputy Mayor Jan Tourek.
    The stadium will first receive a new cooling system for the ice surface and partial cladding. In the second phase, modifications will be made so that after the hockey season, the surface can host other sports, as well as concerts and exhibitions.
    In the fall, the Svetlá municipality plans to apply for a grant for a summer swimming pool as well. Its construction was identified by residents as a priority in a survey four years ago. The swimming pool is to be built next to the winter stadium, and it is estimated to cost around 40 million crowns.
    In nearby Ledeč nad Sázavou, a project is underway to build a covered swimming pool costing about 80 million crowns, which will be heated by alternative energy sources - heat pumps, solar panels, and waste heat from the winter stadium.
    Among the projects that Havlíčkův Brod will submit to European funds this month is the construction of a new gymnasium next to Základní škola V Sadech, costing approximately 25 million crowns. With European funds, the city also wants to carry out further improvements to the public sports facility on Plovárenská street. This project, costing around ten million crowns, includes an artificial surface for basketball and football courts, an extension of the in-line track, and the construction of visitor amenities.
    The Žďár municipality expects that the union will help cover the cost of building a summer swimming pool for several tens of millions of crowns, which has been debated in the city for several years. A grant application will be submitted by the end of the month. If Náměšť nad Oslavou receives sufficient funding, it will start construction this year on a complex with a covered winter stadium, a multipurpose hall, and a parking lot, costing a total of 173 million crowns.
    The regional city of Jihlava is considering the reconstruction of the Horácký winter stadium for over 300 million crowns, but the start of work is uncertain. "The design firm will prepare the necessary documentation for the zoning proceedings, which will take about a year of work. Only then will a final decision be made on the conditions and whether the reconstruction will take place," explained the spokesperson for the municipality, Radek Tulis.
    According to the Czech Statistical Office, there were a total of 31 covered swimming pools and stadiums in cities and towns in the Vysočina region two years ago. About one-third of them were located in the Žďár area, while there were only three such sports facilities in the Pelhřimov area.