Blue-green algae, extreme crowds and swimmers’ itch mean few swimming opportunities in Groningen. Four political parties are calling for haste: make sure we can quickly take a dip in the pond in the Stadspark or the water of the Diepenring.
After a drizzly, cold morning in the Stadspark, the sun comes through. The park is slowly filling up with residents who want to make a tour around the pond. Opinions about swimming in this pool are divided. Hans: ,,I really don’t see myself swimming here. There is a group of geese here, the water is shallow and the bottom is full of dirt from the nature around the pond. On a sunny day, the Stadspark is already packed with people. Please let’s keep it that way, I think it’s fine.”
The Stadsparkvijver is not yet a well-known swimming spot, but it could very well become one. The Hoornse Plas, the Paterswoldsemeer, Stadsstrand, Zilvermeer and the Ruskeveenseplas are currently the official swimming locations of Groningen. But where the Stadsstrand fills up to the brim every summer, the Hoornse Plas and the Paterswoldsemeer are plagued by blue-green algae or swimmer’s itch. So it is high time for new official swimming spots in the city, says GroenLinks council member Ceciel Nieuwenhout. Together with the CDA, D66 and the PvdA, the party submitted the initiative proposal ‘Water fun in all seasons’.
More safe swimming spots for the city
,,We see the crowds increase year after year at well-known swimming spots”, Nieuwenhout explains. “But many of these locations are unusable early in the season due to blue-green algae, which means that more and more people are swimming in places where the water quality is not tested. We want safe swimming spots and think that the pond in the Stadspark and the future ‘Dudok aan het Diep’ are well suited for this.”
It takes a while before a swimming spot really gets an official stamp. The water quality must be monitored for two years to determine whether that water is safe enough for swimming. The water should also not have any sharp parts, such as bicycles on the bottom, and there should be a safe way to get out of the water. Nieuwenhout: ,,If it turns out to be safe sooner, we want to start a trial in anticipation of the decision of the province to speed up the process. If after a year it can already be seen that the water quality is good, it is a waste of time to wait any longer before swimming. That’s how it went at the Stadsstrand too.”
Marcel: ‘I’m not a water rat myself’
Back to City Park. Marcel regularly walks his dogs here and likes the plans. ,,I’m not a water rat myself, but I think it would be good for Groningen. I think that too little is being done with the park and the pond and I can imagine that more people will use it if they can swim here.”
Carmel can also get excited about the idea. ,,Doing! I have often thought about a nice terrace with a sandy beach in front of the Stadsparkpaviljoen. And if you can also go into the water, that would be great fun.”
Where the province is the competent authority for designating official swimming locations and the municipality is the owner in many cases, the Noorderzijlvest water board is responsible for water quality. “As water boards, we are positive about this proposal and are happy to cooperate,” says Géanne Kremer-Oosterhuis of Noorderzijlvest. “A few years ago, at the request of the municipality, we started measuring the water quality in the Stadspark. The most important parameters based on the latest measurements seem positive. We can only test it against the European standard if the municipality decides to make the Stadspark an official swimming location.”
Traffic light system for Dudok aan het Diep
Nieuwenhout also sees swimming potential in the future ‘Dudok aan het Diep’, which is to be built on the site of the former petrol station on the north side of the Diepenring. This location will offer Groningen residents a new place for meeting and recreation on the water. ,,We would like the possibility of swimming to be included in the design”, adds Nieuwenhout.
But that was not done easily. After heavy rain showers, the sewer overflows into the Diepenring, a situation that only improves after a few days of heavy rain. Measuring the water quality takes a number of days, so that residents often do not know in time whether they can swim safely here. The initiative proposal suggests, among other things, a better and faster system for monitoring, but also for communication to swimmers, such as in the form of a traffic light system.
The sky is now clear blue above the Stadspark. The spring sun helps to imagine the park as a new swimming paradise in the city. “Many families come here for a picnic in the summer, it would be nice if they could also cool off in the water,” says hiker Agnes. “But I am not immediately convinced of the quality of the water here. If they make it an official swimming spot, they must also provide toilets. Otherwise it will be a mess.”