Elsebad
The Elsebad (officially Bürgerbad Elsetal ) is a voluntary open-air swimming pool in the Ergste district in the town of Schwerte in Germany .
The Elsebad has, since it since its reopening as a so particular in the political sphere, a relatively high profile Burgerbad with dedicated public participation is linked. At the turn of the year 1994/1995, the first successful referendum in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia laid the foundations for the later reopening.
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia honored Elsebad in 2003 as part of Agenda 21 North Rhine-Westphalia. Since then, it has officially been regarded as a " best practice example" in the area of " sustainable social and social policy ".
The old Elsebad
In 1938 the construction of the Elsebad began on the initiative of the manufacturer Wilhelm Hidding. It is in a scenic location directly on the Elsebach , whose water fed the swimming pool for a long time. The Reich Labor Service carried out a substantial part of the work . The outdoor pool opened a year later. The Ergste office at that time, the municipality of Villigst and the two local companies, Kettenfabrik Theile and Stahlwerk Ergste , made a significant financial contribution to both the construction and continued operation.
In 1975, in the course of the local reorganization , the city of Schwerte took over the bath as legal successor to the dissolved Ergste office.
In 1993, after creating a pool concept and opening the modern leisure all-weather pool (FAB) with a giant slide, fun pool, sauna and wellness area, the city closed the "simple" Elsebad despite strong and sustained public protests. For several years, the site was unused. The buildings fell into disrepair, parts of the equipment were dismantled and used in the FAB. An expert opinion provided for an artificial lake to be created in the basin area and for the wet meadow to be "covered with bushes". But it didn't come to that.
The new Elsebad
Various private initiatives in the years after the bathroom was closed were unsuccessful. But thanks to a legal innovation, the introduction of the "Citizens' Initiative" in North Rhine-Westphalia, older council decisions could also be re-examined. There were three initiators who prepared the necessary steps: after the closure, numerous citizens collected signatures and got involved in the citizens' initiative . After the referendum at the turn of 1994/1995 had an overwhelming success, the council and administration could no longer refuse to continue operating the private pool. In a council meeting in the RTG auditorium, the closure was withdrawn with great public participation. However, a few years should pass before the final release. The city then guaranteed an annual operating grant.
In 1995 the non-profit "Förderverein Bürgerbad Elsetal eV" was founded. It was supposed to organize the reopening, to recruit funds and helpers and to act as a contact and contract partner for the various authorities and grant providers.
In 1996 the also non-profit "Elsebad-Betriebs-gGmbH" was launched as a property developer and operator; its main shareholder is the development association.
In 1998, the Elsebad was reopened freshly renovated according to plans by the architects Maike and Can Yeger (today Meyer-Wolters & Yeger Architects). The town of Schwerte is still the owner of the pool, but it is leased as part of the heritable building right .
More than 100 volunteers ensure the reliable operation and continued existence of the unspectacular but popular outdoor pool. It offers a 50-meter stainless steel pool, a separate children's paddling pool under an awning, a four-hectare lawn for sunbathing, a kiosk with hot snacks, two beach volleyball fields and a handball field.
Every year, depending on the sunny days, 80,000 to 100,000 visitors are counted. Thanks to inexpensive season tickets, the Elsebad is not as dependent on day visitors as other outdoor pools. Over 2,000 season tickets are regularly sold months before the season opens.
The "Spieldorf Argeste", named after an old form of the place name Ergste, is located on the outdoor pool area . Here children act out historical events.
The association's own magazine "Elsetaler Anzeiger" reports regularly on Elsebad.
location
The Elsebad is located in the immediate vicinity of the Ergste train station ( Schwerte-Ergste stop ) on the border with the Villigst district in the street Am Winkelstück 113 .
Web links
- Official homepage of the Bürgerbad Elsetal (Elsebad)
- Play village Argeste - educational offer on the grounds of the Elsebad
Coordinates: 51 ° 25 ′ 27 " N , 7 ° 35 ′ 4" E