In Brno, the construction of a new pool at Lužánky began today for 250 million CZK

Brno - Construction of a new swimming pool began today in Brno, which will become part of the Municipal Swimming Pool Lužánky. For 250 million crowns, an eight-lane pool measuring 25 meters in length will be built here, as well as a smaller and shallower pool for preschool children and swimming lessons for children of this age. It is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023, and construction will require an eight- to nine-month interruption of operations at the current fifty-meter pool, said Martin Mikš, director of the city company Starez-sport, during the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. The new pool will again increase the capacity for competitive and performance swimmers in Brno, as well as for the public and school swimming lessons, which are still not sufficient.

The pool will be structurally connected to the nearly 50-year-old building perpendicularly in the northern part and will blend well into the adjacent park, featuring a green roof. "I dare say that the best swimming center in the country will be created here, where large international competitions can also take place. The new pool will serve as a warm-up pool during these events," said Mikš. Thanks to the new pool, groups that currently share the space in the fifty-meter pool, whether swimming clubs or, for example, synchronized swimmers, water polo players, or divers, will have more room. Many schools in Brno will also no longer have to travel for swimming lessons in the surrounding areas.

According to Mikš, the new construction will also help the center's economy because today the majority of visitors are swimmers who leave for home after swimming. "This will work like a quasi water park; there will be more families with children who will also use other services. Since the year before last, there has also been a wellness area here," said Mikš.

The construction will also include the renovation of the facilities of the current pool, including changing rooms, staircases, and elevators. A downside of the construction will be the several-month shutdown starting in July of next year. It will be necessary to reroute technologies and carry out renovations. The surrounding area of the pool will also be modified to ensure barrier-free access.

Most of the funding for the construction of the pool has been allocated from the city budget, with 90 million crowns contributed by the National Sports Agency.

The Brno pool is not the only one in South Moravia that swimmers can look forward to. A pool in Znojmo is also set to open in two years, having begun construction in July, with a cost of 350 million crowns.

Pool operators faced enormous problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as they had to close for many months. Losses for Starez-sport, which also operates a water park in Kohoutovice and the Ponávka pool as well as the spa on Rašínova Street, reached tens of millions of crowns even with maximum efforts to minimize costs. "If we didn't have the city as an owner and were a private company, it probably would have put us out of business. We survived only thanks to the city's funds. We also didn't want to lay off employees because those who did are now finding it difficult to rehire them," described the situation Mikš.