Summertime Berlin: Closed Public Pools Cause Tension in Certain Areas
In the heart of Berlin, residents are grappling with the struggle of finding affordable and accessible outdoor pool options, particularly in the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf. With only a small children's pool available in Marzahn, families with older children and teenagers find themselves facing a scarcity of cooling options near their homes.
Currently, there is limited specific information available about outdoor pool options directly in Marzahn-Hellersdorf. However, residents in and around Berlin can access outdoor pools in neighboring districts or through private accommodations.
One such option is the Wilmina Hotel, located in Berlin but not specifically in Marzahn-Hellersdorf, which offers a seasonal outdoor swimming pool. For those willing to travel, the Saunahaus mit Swimmingpool in Reinickendorf provides an outdoor pool area with a sauna. Additionally, holiday homes and apartments in nearby districts offer outdoor pool facilities, such as a holiday home in Kaulsdorf.
Accessing these pools typically requires booking accommodations or renting the property, travelling to nearby districts, or, in some cases, purchasing membership or day passes, though this is not specified for the current options.
Elsewhere in Berlin, the situation is somewhat better. Districts like Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Spandau have outdoor pools available for residents. For instance, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf boasts the Sommerbad Olympiastadion and the Sommerbad Wilmersdorf, supplemented by leased Strandbäder like Jungfernheide. In Neukölln, the Kombibad Gropiusstadt and the Sommerbad Neukölln cater to bathers.
Overcrowded outdoor pools in neighboring districts and the challenge of finding affordable leisure activities for the family are common issues faced by Berliners. For example, Miriam, 38, often has to travel almost 40 minutes to Pankow to find an outdoor pool, as the Prinzenbad in Neukölln is often overcrowded. Sabine Mausker, a resident of the Weberkiez, also reports having to drive all the way to Pankow to go swimming with her children.
Berlin Baths Operations (BBB) run fifteen classic outdoor pools and nine leased summer pools across ten of the twelve districts. In 2023, around 152 million euros were invested in construction and renovation projects, including 42 million euros for the wave pool Spreewaldplatz and 32 million euros for the combi-bath Mariendorf. The city aims to spend about 370 million euros on a modern, barrier-free, and climate-friendly bathscape by 2030.
Despite these investments, many Berliners find the argumentation of the Baths Operations inadequate. Lakes are often overcrowded, poorly accessible, or lack secure infrastructure, and indoor pools with outdoor pools have restricted opening hours or are dilapidated. A new outdoor pool is being built at the city bath Tiergarten and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2026.
As the summer heat approaches, the lack of affordable and accessible outdoor pool options in Marzahn-Hellersdorf remains a concern for its residents. Efforts are ongoing to address this issue and provide a solution for the over 270,000 people living in the district.
- For affordable access to an outdoor pool of a kind used for cooling off, some residents in Marzahn-Hellersdorf may consider visiting nearby districts or private accommodations like the Wilmina Hotel in Berlin, the Saunahaus mit Swimmingpool in Reinickendorf, or holiday homes in Kaulsdorf.
- In addition to swimming, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and relationship-focused shopping possibilities can be found in a variety of districts across Berlin, such as Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Spandau.
- Sports enthusiasts in Berlin might find interest in leisure activities at outdoor pools in other districts, for example, the Sommerbad Olympiastadion and the Sommerbad Wilmersdorf in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, or the Kombibad Gropiusstadt and the Sommerbad Neukölln in Neukölln.
- When it comes to travel, exploring Berlin and its neighboring areas could lead to the discovery of underused outdoor pool options, ensuring a more enjoyable and relaxing escape from the summer heat for residents looking for a cool oasis, particularly in Marzahn-Hellersdorf.
