Jena baths

Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH
legal form	GmbH
Seat	Jena Germany
management	Susan Zetzmann
Number of employees	112 (2009)
sales	2.71 million euros (2009)
Branch	Operation of swimming pools
Website	www.jenaer-baeder.de

Public baths have been operated by the city of Jena since 1898. Today these belong to the municipal company Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH (JBG), part of the Stadtwerke Jena group.

The company "Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH"

In October 1997, Technischen Werke Jena was commissioned to found Jenaer Bäder und Freizeit GmbH (JBG) as a fully-fledged subsidiary with effect from January 1, 1998 , which would cover all facilities operated by the city up to that point, with the exception of the Jena public baths . also the associated real estate, as well as the staff as a whole should take over. This determination required the new construction of the leisure pool, later known as GalaxSea . The company is in a loss compensation relationship with the city of Jena. The participation of the external operating company monte mare was rejected because of financial thoughts in favor of a project and architecture consulting function.

In 1997, a combined sauna and swimming pool entry ticket was offered for the first time in connection with changed sauna opening times, which in the previous year had already been preceded by annual and 10-pass tickets in order to be able to increase the number of visitors and generate additional income.

Jens Hackbart took over the management in 2005. He left JBG on October 31, 2009 as managing director. From November 2009, Steffen Gundermann, head of the accounting department at Stadtwerke Jena-Pößneck, temporarily took over the management.

The outdoor pool in Hermsdorf is also operated by the JBG.

Bathing establishments

Volksbad

Volksbad in Jena

The Volksbad was the first and oldest indoor swimming pool in Jena . The building is located near the city center of Jena and, in addition to the indoor swimming pool, was equipped with sauna areas, tub and medical bathing facilities as well as a restaurant and a laundry .

It was erected between 1907 and 1909 for around 450,000 marks as a limestone corner structure with a striking tower. In the 1970s it was structurally and technically worn out and was closed after the Lobeda swimming pool opened, but rebuilt in 1983 and reopened in 1987. After 1997, the number of users of the pool areas fell sharply, as many bathers preferred the leisure pools built in the surrounding area ( Kristallbad in Bad Klosterlausnitz from 1997, Toskana-Therme in Bad Sulza from 1999) to the spartan Jena pool. This development led to the construction of a new leisure pool ( GalaxSea ) in the Winzerla district and the closure of the public pool in 2001, among other things due to the higher operating costs compared to the Lobedaer swimming pool as the third indoor swimming pool in Jena. The closure was controversial among the Jena public, as the remaining regular users placed little value on experience-oriented offers and did not accept the associated higher admission prices. This resulted in later special measures in the marketing of the new leisure pool.

After a long disagreement about the further use of the property, it was converted into a mixed-use building (event location as well as administrative and warehouse headquarters of various municipal organizations) after a renovation by the end of 2007. Some redesign and usage key points were published as early as 2000.

Visitor numbers (in thousands of people per year, rounded)

	1991	1992	1993	1994 ⁽¹⁾	1995	1996 ⁽²⁾	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001 ⁽⁴⁾
Swimming pool	105	109	98	97	106	77	⁽³⁾	36	32	34	18th
Tub / shower	2.8	3.0	4.1	5.0	5.1	3.1	⁽³⁾	1.9	1.5	1,211	0.526
total (with sauna)							⁽³⁾		79	71	31

⁽¹⁾ 6 weeks closing time

⁽²⁾ 3 months closing time

⁽³⁾ no data in the official statistics

⁽⁴⁾ until June 29, 2001, after which it will be closed for good

Lobeda-West swimming pool

The Lobeda swimming pool , which was opened for the 10th anniversary of Neulobedas in October 1976 and mainly reconstructed in 1992 as well as in 2004 and on the facade in 2006, was preferred to the maintenance of the public swimming pool as such as part of the construction of the new leisure pool, as the per capita subsidy it claimed was in comparison proved to be much lower than the one there; the closure of the Volksbad continued to bring greater immediate savings to light.

Since March 10, 2007, the indoor swimming pool has been open to the public for at least two or three days a week and limited seasonally for two hours at a time; Sauna and solarium visits are no longer offered. The age-limited public swimming offer took place again in 2002 after a few complaints; the current offer was temporarily in effect in 2001 until the opening of the leisure pool. There is a five-lane 25-meter swimming pool with a maximum water depth of 1.8 meters.

In the future, the swimming pool is to be replaced by a new building on the nearby property of the former Lobeda-West cultural center, which is to have a 50-meter swimming pool suitable for competitions . This is estimated to cost around 11 million euros and the earliest possible construction period from 2019 to 2021. The resolution on this was passed unanimously at the city council meeting on June 14, 2018.

Visitor numbers (in thousands of people per year, rounded)

1999	2000	2001
25th	21st	17th

GalaxSea leisure pool

View of the GalaxSea from Lobedaer Strasse

The GalaxSea in March 2013 during renovation, scaffolding and with a partially dismantled slide.

The newly founded bathing company was commissioned to set up a leisure pool between Lobedaer and Rudolstädter Strasse and the neighboring Jena thermal power station in the Winzerla district, and in return received a municipal guarantee of DM 26 million and a planned annual subsidy of DM 1.5 million. In order to avoid massive increases in costs, the Lobeda indoor swimming pool had to be converted into a non-public school and club swimming pool without a sauna or solarium, and the public bath had to be closed if it could not be operated without exception without subsidies . Another requirement was the provision of an inexpensive swimming offer that took place at least once a week.

The area of the systems measures around 7,169 square meters, of which around 1,056 square meters are water. Around 30,000 cubic meters of water, 2 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy and 6.5 million kilowatt hours of thermal energy are required each year.

A later increase in admission prices in the leisure pool due to a lack of profitability had to be partially withdrawn, as did the planned high concentration of school and club swimming after a heavy loss of visitors. The decision to discontinue the so-called women's sauna, which was criticized in public, was also revised in favor of weekly use.

In addition to a few fun pools (including a wave pool and a lazy river as well as a small outdoor pool), the pool also has a sports pool, which is occasionally used by clubs and schools and has five swimming lanes over a length of 25 meters with a maximum depth of 3.6 meters. The jumping of three different heights is limited in time possible, while the pool is otherwise blocked. As a rule, a mobile ice rink from a third-party provider was set up on the forecourt by the 2007/2008 winter season.

Visitor numbers (in thousands of people per year, rounded)

2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
162 ⁽¹⁾	244	277	262	269	275	286	273	277	222 ⁽²⁾	43 ^{(2, 3)}

⁽¹⁾ from March 2002

⁽²⁾ from mid-August 2011 without bathing

⁽³⁾ between mid-September 2012 and mid-February 2013 without sauna use

In 2001, the then managing director Robert Rauschelbach named around 350,000 visitors a year as the intended economic value, and a press article spoke of 1,000 daily target visitors. Robert Rauschelbach resigned from his post on October 1, 2002 after ongoing differences of opinion. Technische Werke Jena - Managing Director Martin Fürböck determined the bad situation to be caused by a bad planning by the company monte mare , which assumed that the guests would stay for a day instead of several hours . Uwe Friedrich, Managing Director of the local transport company , took over the office temporarily until Jens Hackbart joined the company.

Towards mid-August 2011, the bathing area was closed for an indefinite period due to significant structural defects, including a risk of collapse. The sauna and wellness area could mostly be used. Originally, bathing was supposed to be resumed in December of that year. According to an expert opinion, however, general rules of construction technology were violated, whereupon the reopening was severely delayed. The announced date before the Christmas holidays 2012/2013 also turned out to be unfeasible. After all, the bathing area was not opened to the public again until December 21, 2013.

Ostbad

The Ostbad during the winter break

Located in the north-east of the city at the foot of the Jenzig and, in contrast to the Südbad, this renovated outdoor pool is based on swimming and paddling pools and is a popular contact point for schoolchildren, swimmers and families in the warm season. The swimming pool is almost 50 meters long and has a maximum water depth of 2.1 meters. There is a 65-meter water slide and various dry sports activities available.

Visitor numbers (in thousands of people per year, rounded)

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
67	56	63	46	83	39	47	66	37	49	60	67	50	58	35	64

Südbad

Schleichersee

Beach view

The origin of the Südbad goes back to efforts by the sports club "Wasserfreunde Jena" to use the gravel pit operated by Paul Schleicher in the Oberaue for swimming. From 1936 onwards, a sports facility suitable for competitions with 50-meter lanes and a springboard was built on the north-western bank of the Grubensee, which is currently under construction (popularly known as Schleichersee ), as well as a functional and changing building on the bank. This facility was used until the 1960s and then fell into disrepair; it was only dismantled when the south pool was renovated after 1987.

After the Second World War, the entire Schleichersee was taken over by the city and used as a bathing lake from 1947 . It is 3.8 hectares, an average of 2.5 and a maximum of 4.0 meters deep. The water exchange takes place, despite only 12 m distance to the Saale, mainly through the inflow of groundwater at the bottom of the lake. Part of the lake is classified as a fishing area and may not be used for swimming. There is still a restaurant on the east bank of the water, which is open for swimming in the summer months. In the northwestern area of the site there is a paddling pool for small children, further attractions for children have been established on the flat front bank. In the summer of 2007, a separate "beach bar" (beach sneak) was opened near the existing ball game fields, which is open from May to September. The southern edge of the outdoor swimming pool area is used as a non-official, but tolerated nudist area.

The water quality of the Schleichersee was controversially discussed for decades, as there was hardly any reliable data available during the GDR era and the water was usually brown in color. In the summer of 1986 an algal bloom occurred for the first time , which led to a ban on bathing for several years. As a remedial measure, deep water aeration and shallow wells were created in 1987/1988 to introduce additional groundwater and the digested sludge in the lake was moved behind a barrier in the northern part of the lake. This workaround proved inadequate in the long term; In the warm summer months, the beginning of eutrophication was observed again and again . In order to ensure the water quality in the long term, the Schleichersee was fished, pumped empty, excavated and the sludge (5400 m³) removed in winter 2010/2011, after which the artificial sandy beach was renewed and expanded.

After flooding the lake and new fish stocks, the Saale flood caused further damage in 2013 when the Oberaue partially flooded and the lake was connected to the Saale. Among other things, the sandy beach was washed away and uncontrolled fish from the Saale got into the lake; the cleanup resulted in a prolonged unplanned closure. Similar effects can be expected for future flood events.

Visitor numbers (in thousands of people per year, rounded)

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
62	55	59	49	77	43	62	74	47	54	60	54	50	76	19th	34

Saale baths (until 1954)

In today's urban area of Jena there were several river baths on the Saale until the middle of the 20th century . However, some of these were not reopened after the Second World War. In 1954 the Saale was permanently closed to bathing due to excessive pollution and the livelihood of the Saale baths was thus deprived. Around 2000, however, the Saale again achieved water quality class II in the Jena area and can be used for swimming. However, this only happens sporadically and at your own risk.

Stadtbad (Lichtenhainer Bad)

Main building of the former city bath

The Stadtbad am Burgauer Weg was created after the First World War from the military swimming facility of the infantry unit stationed in Jena from 1867 to 1919 . Around 1930 it was expanded into a highly modern facility for up to 2000 visitors for 156,000 marks; Sunbathing areas, changing rooms, children's paddling pools and restaurants were created. In the 1960s, VEB Jenapharm took over the pool, which was closed in 1954, and reopened it as a local recreation center on July 1, 1968, whereby the paddling pool was initially still used, but was later filled. In the 1990s the property was again taken over by the city, renovated and leased (restaurant “Zum Saalestrand”, Circus Momolo, Angler-Union Jena eV). At the place of the former Saale swimming pool, the Lichtenhain bridge now leads over the Saale.

Ice rake bath, Gries bath and Lobeda bath

These baths were small facilities that existed until shortly after the Second World War. Today, many decades after the closure, no more traces of them are visible.

The Eisrechenbad or Paradiesbad , formerly the “academic Saale bath”, was located on the left bank of the Saale below the Paradiesbrücke. The city took over and renovated it in 1898. From 1908 women were allowed to bathe there, for which separate opening times were introduced.

About 900 m downstream from the Eisrechenbad, on the right bank of the Saale opposite the Schillerpassage car park , was the Griesbad or Wenigenjenaer Bad . It was built in 1891 by the Wenigenjena municipality , renovated in 1903 and expanded again in 1908. With the incorporation of Wenigenjenas on October 1, 1909, it was taken over by the city of Jena.

The small town of Lobeda, south of Jena, which was incorporated into Jena in 1946 , had its own small Saale pool below today's Theobald-Renner-Strasse from 1925 to 1947.

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Birgitt Hellmann, Evelyn Halm, Margitta Ballhorn: Jena - series archive images . Sutton Verlag, Erfurt, 1998. ISBN 3-89702-052-1 , page 114

↑ City of Jena: Introductory decision ( installation decision ) for a project-related development plan "Paradies-Center" in Official Gazette 23/2000 (PDF; 387 kB) from June 15, 2000

↑ Lobeda district office: Lobeda sports facilities are being renovated in We live in Lobeda 08/2004 (PDF; 403 kB)

↑ New swimming pool building in Lobeda. Report to jenatv.de. Retrieved June 20, 2018 .

↑ District office Lobeda: Topic in the local council: Lobeda on dry land? in We live in Lobeda 10/2001 (PDF; 226 kB)

↑ chief of Bädergesellschaft Jena has to take his hat in Ostthüringer newspaper of 30 August 2002

↑ GalaxSea homepage from December 31, 2011

↑ The "water friends" build a bath! Jenaische Zeitung, No. 102, May 2, 1936

↑ In the aerial photo from June 29, 1987, the facility is still visible; available in the geoportal of the state of Thuringia (download area: https://www.geoportal-th.de/de-de/Downloadbereich/Download-Offene-Geodaten-Th%C3%BCringen/Download-Luftbilder-und-Orthophotos ) under number 198712 0009.

↑ Dimensions and information on the renovation in 1988 in: Umweltbericht der Stadt Jena 1992 . City of Jena, Department for Environmental Protection and Public Institutions, Jena, 1992. Page 196

↑ Environmental report of the city of Jena 2012 . City of Jena, Environmental Protection Service, 2012. Pages 96/97

↑ Photos with detailed explanations in: Birgitt Hellmann, Evelyn Halm, Margitta Ballhorn: Jena - series archive images . Sutton Verlag, Erfurt, 1998. ISBN 3-89702-052-1 , pages 114 to 119

↑ Katrin Blondzik, Bettina Rechenberg: The water quality of our rivers. (PDF) Retrieved June 24, 2018 .

[1] Birgitt Hellmann, Evelyn Halm, Margitta Ballhorn: Jena - series archive images . Sutton Verlag, Erfurt, 1998. ISBN 3-89702-052-1 , page 114