Preparing for the outdoor pool season at full speed

The city of Chemnitz starts the swimming season in the four municipal outdoor pools on 11 May in Einsiedel. The Bernsdorf and Wittgensdorf pools will follow on 18 May and the Gablenz outdoor pool the following week, on 25 May. While the first three open-air pools are expected to be open until 18 August, the Gablenz pool, which will open later, will remain open until 8 September.

Opening hours are daily from 11 am to 6 pm and during the summer holidays in Saxony (15 July to 23 August) from 10 am to 8 pm.

Persistent frost and wintry weather have postponed the start of preparations and repairs until close to the season. The sports and building authorities are now pushing ahead with preparatory work, repairs and construction measures, such as replacing the filter material in the two water technology systems in Bad Einsiedel - a prerequisite for consistently good water quality. The town is also renewing the playground at the Wittgensdorf outdoor pool before the start of the season. This had become outdated and a new climbing combination and sandpit are now to be installed. A facility that parents with small children are sure to enjoy during their visit to the pool.

At the Gablenz outdoor pool, on the other hand, the larger of the two paddling pools is to be replaced. Frost had caused massive damage to the body of the pool. In future, colourful fish motifs will adorn the paddling pool floor, an eye-catcher for little swimmers. In addition, the area of the toddlers' pool and a sunbathing area will receive larger sun awnings. The town is spending around 30,000 euros on these new features at the Wittgensdorf and Gablenz outdoor pools.

City employees and volunteers from the "Friends of the Bernsdorf outdoor pool" interest group also want to "clear the decks" at the Bernsdorf outdoor pool before the start of the season. Only when the winter dirt has been removed from the pools with high-pressure cleaners will it be possible to see the extent of the frost damage. Of course, this will then have to be repaired with paint. And this is another area where the community of interest, which generally supports the city in the operation of this outdoor pool, is involved, for example in mowing the lawn and cleaning work. Before the pool opens, the sports office would also like to tidy up the technical areas that are necessary for its long-term operation.

Meanwhile, the Sports Office is still looking for lifeguards to work alongside the municipal pool staff. Their pay has been increased by one euro to 9.50 euros gross per hour of service with a guaranteed service period of 200 hours per season.

Rabenstein reservoir and Erfenschlag outdoor pool: Eissport und Freizeit GmbH Chemnitz will start the swimming season at the Rabenstein reservoir on 1 May. Opening hours: May: 10 am - 7 pm, June - August: 10 am - 8 pm, from 18 August until 7 pm (opening times subject to change), September: 10 am - 6 pm. Bathers can find up-to-date information on the Rabenstein reservoir online at www.stausee-rabenstein.de.

According to EFC Managing Director Roland Hauschild, the preparatory work at the Rabenstein reservoir has also been delayed. The operator is therefore endeavouring to extend a children's playground shortly before the opening, build a new children's slide with a swimming pool and also carry out embellishment work on the changing buildings. All in all, according to the operator, these new features will cost 100,000 euros.

The Erfenschlag outdoor pool operated by SSV Textima will open its doors on 25 May. Opening hours are daily from 11 am to 6 pm and during the summer holidays (15 July to 23 August) from 10 am to 8 pm.

According to Jens Brückner, chairman of the association, the pool area has already been prepared for the season. Installation work now needs to be carried out and the pool still needs to be filled.

Bernsdorf indoor swimming pool : As usual, regular maintenance and repairs have to be carried out in the town's indoor swimming pools during the outdoor swimming season. It is also planned to offer public courses and swimming times in the Bernsdorf indoor swimming pool during the 2013 outdoor pool season - the specific times will be finalised shortly. The press office will provide information about the individual offers and opening times of the indoor pools as well as the regular maintenance and repairs there at a later date.

Information online:

Indoor pools: www.chemnitz.de/hallenbaeder - Outdoor pools: www.chemnitz.de/freibaeder