Straussee outdoor pool: 100 years full of history and questions about the future!

Straussee outdoor pool: 100 years full of history and questions about the future!

Something very special is coming up: Next Friday, the Straussee outdoor swimming pool in Strausberg, which opened on June 20, 1925, will celebrate its 100th birthday. But while the anticipation of celebrations grows, one also faces a sad reality. The pool, which has been closed for six years, cannot currently be used because the urgently needed financial resources for a partial opening are missing. A good reason for the population to pause and look back on the history of this historic place, which has attracted people seeking relaxation from Berlin and the surrounding area for years. So reported rbb24 that the partial renovation of the pool has so far cost 1.4 million euros, but it remains unclear how much is still needed for the complete restoration.

The outdoor pool, which was originally created as a seaside resort, was already a popular destination for citizens in 1925. The first major event after the opening was a “large show swimming” on June 28, 1925 by the “Welle” swimming club with 350 athletes. The entrance fee back then was 50 pfennigs for adults and 20 pfennigs for children, which shows that the joy of swimming was already very popular back then. But in recent years, falling water levels and a dangerously shallow beach area have left bathers fearing for their safety. Therefore, the decision was made in 2019 to close the pool. Tours of the site are planned for the small celebration of the 100th anniversary on July 26th, but swimming remains prohibited strausberger-baeder.de reported.

A story full of changes

The seaside resort underwent various changes after the end of the war in 1945. Despite the damage, it was quickly restored. The demolition of the old wooden tower in 1972 due to the risk of accidents and its replacement with a steel frame construction shows how important safety has become over the years. In the 1980s, the riverside facilities were renewed, while extensive renovation work on the main building was completed in 1994. Although the seaside resort retains its original dimensions from 1925, a lot has changed, such as the boathouse, which no longer exists. This constant renewal is part of the story that the outdoor pool has to tell.

The events surrounding the Straussee outdoor pool are part of a larger trend that illustrates the value of historic outdoor pools in Germany. This describes it National Geographic the importance of such pools not only as places of relaxation, but also as cultural sites that promote social cohesion. If the financing and renovation work works out in time, the Straussee outdoor swimming pool could return to the glory days when it was one of the region's main attractions.

It remains to be seen whether the seaside resort will be able to reopen its doors. In any case, hopes rest on the upcoming work being completed soon and the Straussee outdoor pool becoming a place of happiness and relaxation again. The water is calling and the first swimmers are already in the starting blocks!