After almost a year of radio silence, things seem to be moving forward again regarding the plan for a catering pavilion at the Grote Rietplas. The municipality of Emmen says it is in discussions with a possible operator for a catering pavilion yet to be built at the water pond between the Rietlanden and Parc Sandur districts. The municipality does not want to say who it is currently sitting around the table with.
In 2020, the municipality called on entrepreneurs to come up with a plan for an entertainment area at the Grote Rietplas. A small peninsula with space for a building of five hundred square meters is pointed out as a suitable location. Catering at this location would be a huge boost, says Emmen. However, it is not easy to find a suitable entrepreneur who is willing to take on that task.
First of all, the corona pandemic threw a spanner in the works. When the search was restarted, exactly one party registered in 2022. But it delivered a plan that was full of holes. Certain documents were missing, which were not provided despite several requests from the municipality. The municipality set a new tender period, which again resulted in one party. But he eventually withdrew because of the increased interest rates.
It remained fairly quiet last year, but a spokesperson for the municipality confirms that another party has currently joined. District chairman Henk van der Vaart thinks that the arrival of a pavilion will give a nice purpose to a ‘quiet corner’ of the lake. “On the other hand, you also have catering facilities at the Kleine Rietplas and at Parc Sandur.”
If a case does arise, a long-cherished wish of the two neighborhoods will be included in the plans. Van der Vaart: “If there are catering facilities, everyone can use the sanitary facilities in the building.” In recent years, both neighborhoods have been confronted with people who defecated and urinated in public.
A few years ago, a temporary facility was therefore installed. “Unfortunately, it was regularly the target of vandalism. A puddle cross and a Dixi have already been thrown into the puddle.” Since cameras have been set up at the facility, the toilet facilities have been left alone. The call for a permanent copy remains strong. “The temporary toilets are only there in the summer.”