Prague invests 48 million crowns in the exhibition grounds

Prague - A natural swimming pool, a freestyle bike park, and a barbecue area will be created in the grounds of the Holešovice Exhibition Center. The total investment of approximately 48 million crowns, excluding VAT, was approved today by Prague city councilors. The barbecue area and bike park are expected to be completed in July 2019, while the swimming pool is expected to be finished in October of the same year.

The swimming area of the natural swimming pool, which will be similar to the water biotope in Radotín, will cover 1810 m². The water biotope system operates on the principle of water circulation, which is cleaned by the natural functions of microorganisms in aquatic plants. The anticipated cost of constructing the water biotope is 36.4 million crowns. The project estimates that up to 600 people could visit the area daily.

Another investment is the construction of a bike park for 6.6 million crowns. The area will include dirt tracks, paths for improving cycling techniques, and features for beginner and professional cyclists. The park will be equipped with natural furnishings. Previously, there was a track for BMX races in the Exhibition Center area, but it gradually fell into disrepair.

For 4.8 million crowns, a gastro pavilion for barbecuing will be built between Brussels Road and Stromovka. The project includes the rental of equipment and a musical pavilion.

All three projects will be located in the fourth zone of the area, which is primarily designated for recreation and connects in character to Stromovka. In the future, an alternative space for landscape art, additional attractions, and sports zones could be developed here.

The Exhibition Center near Stromovka was established in 1891 on the occasion of the Jubilee Land Exhibition. The area suffered significant damage from the flood in 2002. Six years later, the Industrial Palace was engulfed in a fire.

Praha 7 has previously criticized Prague's approach to the Exhibition Center. Last year, the councilor for the development of Praha 7, Lenka Burgerová (Praha 7 sobě), stated that the Exhibition Center has enormous potential, which Prague, as the owner, has failed to utilize over the years. Prague has been planning investments at the Exhibition Center worth hundreds of millions of crowns for years. There are plans to complete the replica of the burned wing of the historic Industrial Palace and to restore some of the listed buildings. However, as Burgerová noted, the Exhibition Center has not undergone too many changes so far.