New Town nad Metují will open a biotope swimming pool with facilities on August 9

Nové Město nad Metují – The nine-thousand-strong Nové Město nad Metují in the Náchod region has a new outdoor swimming pool with facilities. The summer area Metuje (LAM) was created at a cost of 125 million crowns on the site of the former municipal swimming pool. It will open to the public on August 9. Tereza Vaňková, spokesperson for the city hall, announced this today. The investor was the city. Grants from the region and the Ministry for Regional Development totaled 12 million crowns, the rest came from the city budget and its surplus operations.

"The opening of the Metuje Summer Area is an extraordinary moment for our city. We are returning to the city a place that is remembered by several generations of residents. We believe that the new area will serve everyone looking for a quality space for relaxation and leisure," said Mayor Milan Slavík (ODS).

The area was created after years of preparation by the Metuje River at the site of the original municipal swimming pool. However, it had been unused for many years and was in very poor condition. "The area will offer visitors a large and small swimming pool, a slide, a wading pool, a children's water playground, a beach volleyball court, and facilities with refreshments. The operator is the city, and the entrance fee will be 90 crowns for adults and 50 crowns for children," Vaňková stated.

The Metuje summer area is also a biotope swimming pool, which uses a natural method of water purification, so it does not need to be treated with chlorine. "The water is cleaned naturally through biological processes, plants, and filtration zones. Consequently, bathing is gentler on the skin, eyes, and hair and offers visitors a pleasant connection with nature," Vaňková explained. According to her, the biotope concept also supports ecological operations.

The official opening will begin on Sunday, August 9, at 2:00 PM, and the area will be accessible to the public from 12:00 PM. There will be a supporting program. "The ceremonial opening of the Metuje Summer Area will be symbolically connected with the celebrations of the 525th anniversary of the founding of the city, whose cornerstone was laid on August 10, 1501," Vaňková added.

Total costs reached 125 million crowns including VAT, covering project documentation, authorial and technical supervision, and additional work, such as a new access road. "Last but not least, the investment also includes furniture and other equipment. The good news is that we will probably be able to deduct a large part of the VAT, around 17 million crowns. We must also remember the already obtained grants totaling 12 million. The final amount should therefore be under one hundred million crowns," Vaňková informed ČTK.

Construction began last June, and the work was secured by a consortium of companies Stylbau – Kasper CZ. The investment included the removal of foundations from burned-down buildings and the repair of the pool basin. Parking lots, a beach volleyball court, and an operational building including changing rooms, toilets, a technology and service area, and a refreshment building were created. Testing operations will start on August 9, and the occupancy permit is expected to come next year, the city hall stated.