Salò Pool Renovation and Expansion to Enhance Water Sports Facilities
The municipal swimming pool of Salò is about to be renovated at a cost of approximately 800 million lire. Work has already begun for a couple of weeks to expand the Salò aquatic facility, which serves as a reference point for the “water sports enthusiasts” of all the neighboring Garda towns and the inland areas.
Description of the works and planned interventions
An important sports facility for an area like Benaco, where the swimming tradition has deep roots. But let’s focus on the redevelopment project of the structure. It involves expanding the two locker room blocks, the men’s and the women’s, located on the outer sides of the building. The project includes the placement of small changing rooms and lockers.
New services for disabled people will be added to the bathrooms. At the front, near the entrance to the covered area, there will be a new reception space with an attached ticket sales window, a gym equipped for athletes, and a meeting room. “Furthermore, accessibility barriers will be addressed — says architect Anna Gatti, from the Salò Technical Office — and an access ramp will be built to allow wheelchairs to pass.”
Timeline and execution methods of the works
The work will be carried out in phases to avoid disrupting swimming activities and should be completed by mid-January next year. “The various types of interventions required — explains Bernardo Berardelli, Public Works Councillor — have led to dividing the project into three separate contracts, awarded to three different companies: one for the electrical system, another for plumbing, and a third for masonry works.” The architect Paolo Guarnieri is the project manager and supervisor during the construction phase.
External area and initiatives
In addition, the outdoor area of the Salò sports complex has been fully operational for a couple of weeks. With the “Mother’s and Child’s Festival,” which marks the culmination of courses preparing for natural childbirth, neonatal classes (from 5 months to 3 years), and lessons for pregnant women, the outdoor pools and the large park surrounding them have been inaugurated.
During the winter months, the entire paving around the water slides and the two outdoor pools has been refurbished, and the green area has been partially expanded. It includes, besides grassy zones, a basketball court, two beach volleyball courts, and a small football pitch. “In summer,” recalls Beppe Chiappini, director of the Salò pools, “the indoor pools will also remain open to separate educational activities from recreational ones.”
Future projects and management
Meanwhile, there are plans to manage the neighboring outdoor basketball court, adjacent to the “Due Pini” pools, through a sports company. Currently, anyone can enter this fenced playing area, which creates numerous issues related to social disorder and vandalism.
“We think that handing it over to someone (who, how, and when has not yet been decided) — says Gabriele Cominotti, Sports Councillor — could solve both the maintenance and surveillance problems.”
Silvia Musesti