Summary: good average season

Anyone who experienced the summer of 2025 in Wolmirstedt will already have guessed it: The weather also had an impact on the swimming pool season. “In and of itself, the weather wasn’t that bad in summer. But it was often not swimming weather, for many people it was simply a few degrees too cold to go swimming,” says swimming supervisor Stefan Grahn. And he also knows: “Many people have to look at the money. If they pay admission, they want to spend a lot of time in the water,” he says. The Wolmirstedt swimming pool has not increased its prices in recent years and charges moderate admission fees compared to other outdoor pools in the area.

Attendance figures were in the lower five-digit range and were worse than in the previous year. There have been much better years at the Wolmirstedt swimming pool, but also worse. Stefan Grahn therefore classifies the season as an “average season”.

This year, it was not only the mixed weather that made itself felt, but also the fact that it had been 29 years since the last major renovation of the Wolmirstedt swimming pool. “That’s how old the pumps, the slide and much more are. Sometimes things break,” says Stefan Grahn. This year, the slide suddenly leaked and water came out. It took almost two weeks before it could be repaired – during which time the slide had to be closed. Much to the displeasure of many children and young people. “Our slide is a real crowd puller,” explains Stefan Grahn. However, the swimming pool’s central piece of equipment was finally professionally refurbished and the fun continued.

The demand for children’s swimming courses during the vacations has decreased somewhat. The swimming instructor offers these in the swimming pool together with the German Red Cross water rescue service. This year, 42 children were taught to swim in this way – always in compact courses on consecutive days. “Demand was extremely high after the coronavirus period, and now it’s slowly leveling off again,” says Stefan Grahn.

This year, the number of visitors was much higher for early morning swimming. Every Wednesday, for example, Stefan Grahn offered aqua aerobics in the morning. At times, he counted 59 participants in the water at once. “I guess people just enjoy it and word gets around,” he says, explaining the increase in attendance.

In the meantime, the staff at the outdoor pool are getting the facility ready for winter. This means cleaning, maintenance and wrapping up before frosty days are just around the corner. Hoses have to be emptied, pumps packed up and water drained, among many other tasks. However, while the paddling pool at the Wolmirstedt swimming pool was completely drained, only part of the water in the two large pools was drained. “The water is never completely drained,” explains Stefan Grahn. It is used as counter-pressure against the ground to counteract rising groundwater that could damage the pools.

Anyone who thinks that the swimming pool team can rest during the fall and winter months once the work has been completed will be proven wrong: “There is always work to be done at the swimming pool,” says Stefan Grahn. For example, recently renovated garages and sheds are being given a new roof. Benches are painted, playground equipment is cleaned and replaced. Pumps have to be turned regularly to prevent them from rusting. And the lawn on the entire swimming pool site alone needs to be mowed at least two or three more times before winter sets in. “Otherwise everything will be overgrown in spring. And who is going to work on it then?” asks Stefan Grahn.

He not only praises the good cooperation with his colleagues – lifeguard Andreas Harwig and Karl-Heinz Mohrmann, who regularly assists with necessary work. The maintenance and specialist companies that have known the swimming pool for many years and are always on hand in emergencies are also irreplaceable, explains the swimming supervisor.