The swimming hall is envisioned again in connection with the spa

A spa has been brought up again as a location option for the new swimming pool.

There is still a long way to go before decisions are made, but the city of Imatra and the Imatra Spa have started discussions to implement a new swimming pool investment in connection with the spa.

The preliminary discussions look at the construction of an eight-lane and 25-meter-long swimming pool, a teaching pool and a grandstand.

─ The current economic situation and the skyrocketing costs of building materials force us to rethink many investments. The swimming pool is not a statutory municipality activity, but we want to secure the services for the people of Imatra in the future as well. That's why we have to roll up our sleeves and look for genuinely new, cost-effective alternatives, vt. mayor Matias Hilden says.

The city would build, maintenance for the spa

All pool facilities would become the property of the current, city-owned pool company.

The city would be responsible for building a new pool or pools, but the maintenance of the entire pool would be the responsibility of the spa.

─ The agreement between the city and the spa would ensure that regular swimming will continue to be affordable for city residents and that the needs of special groups will be taken into account, emphasizes Hilden.

In the same context, the real estate limited company Ukonranta, now majority-owned by the city group, would transfer ownership of the spa. Ukonranta Oy manages 16 condominiums.

Changed situation

The construction of a new swimming pool or the renovation of an old one has been planned at Imatra since 2019, because the current the condition of the hall is bad.

Three years ago, it was estimated that renovating the old one would be as expensive as building a new one.

The location options for the new building have been Mansikkala and Ukonniemi.

The idea of ​​a swimming pool was already a couple of years ago in connection with the spa, but at that time there was no need for cooperation in the spa, because the tourist flows were very different. The situation has now changed both for the city and the spa.

A lot of emotions in the game

The location of the swimming pool still evokes a lot of emotions.

─ On the other hand, with this solution, we could offer more extensive services throughout the year from morning to evening. The planning is just starting and there are plenty of details to be resolved, Hilden emphasizes.

Preliminary needs assessment and preparatory work will be carried out in the coming months.

─ If the investigations, the decision-makers and the spa judge the cooperation to be reasonable, guidelines could be drawn up by the end of this year, Hilden states.

He emphasizes that the new option is only in the preliminary stages. No decisions have been made, but in the name of transparency, the city wants to tell you about the heated option again in the initial phase.

The design of the sports hall is progressing separately from the swimming pool. A wooden sports hall has been planned next door to the ice rink in Ukonniemi. Decisions in this regard are expected next autumn.

For more information:

Acting mayor Matias Hilden, p. 020 617 2200, matias.hildenimatra.fi (matias[dot]hilden[at]imatra[dot]fi)