Sušice will begin constructing a multipurpose sports hall for up to 150 million CZK

Sušice - The city of Sušice plans to start building a multifunctional sports hall this summer for 130 to 150 million crowns. A third of the costs will be covered by a grant from the Ministry of the Environment for the low-energy building. This year, the budget for the eleven-thousand-strong city allocates 40 million crowns for the hall, which is expected to be built over two years. The city will now announce a tender for a contractor, from which the final price will emerge. This was stated by Mayor Petr Mottl (ODS).

The sports hall will be built in the Na Hrázi area in the unattractive former technical services complex. "Opposite the covered swimming pool and ice stadium," the mayor noted. This way, the city will have all its sports facilities concentrated in one location, including a football and athletics complex, a recently renovated swimming pool, courts, and a relaxation area on the river island of Santos.

The architecturally interesting hall, similar to the pool made of concrete, glass, and wood, will be exceptional in that it will include a section for athletes - a short tartan running track with a jumping pit and an area for throwers. The stand will accommodate 150 to 200 spectators. It will include spacious changing rooms, refreshments, a reception area, and a terrace. On the upper floor, there will be two squash courts and a small climbing wall, and there will be a parking lot for nearly 70 vehicles in front of the building.

Currently, the only facility available to the public in the city, besides gymnasiums at primary schools, is the municipal sports hall at the grammar school, which is also "just" a gym according to the mayor. "It does not meet any competition parameters and the comfort for spectators is almost non-existent,” he added.

Sušice, the fifth largest city in the Plzeň Region, has long been striving to position itself as a good place to live for locals as well as for visitors. "We are establishing ourselves as the gateway to Šumava, possibly its capital. We need to offer tourism infrastructure. The hall fits into the concept," stated Mottl.

In winter, the city tries to offer skiers an alternative program. This winter, with no snow, the popular indoor swimming pool has incurred about the same costs as the sports hall, according to the mayor. It opened in May 2014 and features lanes with a slide, wellness facilities, and a counter-current simulating whitewater. "Now there are lines there, the interest from tourists and locals is enormous this year. All the critics of the pool should go and see it. There is no snow, and so people are queuing to go swimming. It has a huge impact on attendance, which increases every year," Mottl added. The city subsidizes the pool by about three million crowns annually.