From the dilapidated area of the swimming pool, Orlová will create a zone for leisure activities

Orlová – The city of Orlová in Karviná will transform the dilapidated summer swimming area into a zone for leisure activities and will apply for a state grant for modifications. The original project for the reconstruction of the swimming pool, worth 250 million crowns, was halted by the councilors. The city intends to prepare a project for the demolition of all unnecessary buildings, including the Golf restaurant building, and for the subsequent transformation of the area. This was announced today by the spokesperson of the Orlová city hall, Sandra Štrejlová.

The swimming pool has been out of operation for many years, the area is in a state of disrepair and detracts from the appearance of the city. Orlová had already prepared a project for the revitalization of the swimming pool and its subsidized operation. "However, the cost of construction has now increased by at least 20 percent compared to the originally planned quarter of a billion crowns. Operating it would be about 50 percent more expensive, which means it would cost around 12 million crowns annually," Štrejlová stated.

According to her, these figures are also based on a very optimistic scenario – that people would be willing to pay around 100 crowns for entry to the swimming pool, that at least 25,000 visitors would come annually, and that they would spend enough on-site to support the vendors of refreshments or attractions. "The financial situation of the city today does not allow for the realization of a quarter-billion investment project with sound judgment. Nor for its subsequent costly operation," stated Deputy Mayor Petr Stuchlík (SPD).

Therefore, the city councilors decided to abandon the reconstruction of the swimming pool and changed their plan to a recreational area. "We have two options: either we say we will wait until the economic situation in the Czech Republic and thus in our city changes fundamentally, or we start to act. We have decided on a radical step," commented Orlová Mayor Lenka Brzyszkowská (ANO).

The transformation of the area should lead to the creation of a zone for families with children, where conditions for sports activities will not be lacking. The area will remain entirely under the ownership of the city.

The Orlová swimming pool area has been registered in the National Brownfield Database managed by Czechinvest since 2020. "The city will now prepare an architectural study of the area's use, which will serve as the basis for project documentation. This will be funded by portions of the reserves from the Department of Development and Investments," said the spokesperson.