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Renovation of the sports hall: Better condition than feared!
The “Karl Marx” secondary school in Osterburg is being renovated. Hall closure, repairs and new security concepts are planned.
Renovation of the sports hall: Better condition than feared!
In Osterburg, the focus is on the sports hall of the “Karl Marx” secondary school because the condition of the facility is anything but optimal. The hall was closed from the 2025 summer holidays after TÜV experts confirmed the urgent need for renovation. At a meeting with school and club representatives, District Administrator Patrick Puhlmann provided information about the measures necessary for repairs. Despite understanding the closure, many club representatives are dissatisfied with the current situation, landkreis-stendal.de reports.
The hall will remain in its existing form, which gives many athletes hope that it will be used again soon. However, Janine Behrendt, head of the Office for Building Construction and Building Management, discovered that the condition of the hall is better than initially thought. Among other things, the repairs include replacing the rain drainage and adapting the lighting to energy-efficient LED technology. In addition, water damage, which led to the removal of the suspended ceilings in the social wing, will be repaired and a new safety net will be installed. The goal is to complete the current construction phase by the winter holidays of 2025 so that at least parts of the hall can be used again.
Investment needs for sports facilities
The challenges facing sports facilities in Germany are not limited to Osterburg. A survey by the German Institute for Urban Studies (Difu) as part of the “KfW Municipal Panel 2025” shows that many municipalities are struggling with a significant investment backlog in their sports facilities. In 2024, 94% of municipalities had sports halls, but in many cases there are serious deficiencies that could result in closure. Over 59% of the municipal institutions surveyed reported that the investment shortfall in sports halls can be viewed as “serious” or “notable”, [difu.de](https://difu.de/publikationen/2025/kommunale-sportstaetten-grosse-besinn-und-hoher- Investitionsbedarf).
The survey also shows that two thirds of municipalities have been able to keep the number of their sports facilities stable over the last ten years. Nevertheless, significantly fewer new buildings have been built in recent years, which does not sufficiently relieve the highly valued but often ailing range of sports venues.
Current developments in the economy
The connection between sports facilities and the economic situation is unmistakable: the coffers are often empty and the need for investment in urgently needed infrastructure remains high. It remains to be seen how the situation in Osterburg and beyond will develop, while discussions about the necessary financial resources to renovate and maintain sports facilities continue to gain importance.