Ban on swimming at the popular Cologne lake is being examined – will swimming be allowed soon?
Created: 07/07/2022, 11:11 am
By: Mick Oberbusch
Bathing and swimming is only allowed in the Blackfoot Beach area at Fühlinger See, but that could change.
© Ying Tang/&Imago
At the Fühlinger See in Cologne, swimming outside of the "Blackfoot Beach" is prohibited.
According to Mayor Henriette Reker, this could change in 2023.
Cologne – The fatal swimming accident of a 50-year-old at the Fühlinger See in Cologne on July 3 shocked not only the guests of the Summerjam reggae festival who were actually celebrating there, but people throughout Cologne – and also in the city administration.
Because with all understanding for the desire of the people of Cologne to cool off there in summer, bathing at the Fühlinger See in the Cologne-Chorweiler district is and will remain prohibited.
Mayor Henriette Reker also adheres to this – but wants to examine possibilities for the coming year to possibly allow swimming there in certain places.
Fühlinger See in Cologne | |
|---|---|
Size: | around 200 hectares in size |
Areas: | Lake 1-7 and regatta course |
Initiated: | 1978 |
Address: | Stallagsbergweg, 50769 Cologne |
After a swimming accident at Fühlinger See: Mayor Reker understands – but the ban remains
“I can understand that for many people it is tempting to cool off with a bath when the temperature is hot.
However, it is the task of the city of Cologne to avert damage from the citizens," explains the mayor to 24RHEIN.
"This also means that we must warn against bathing or ban it wherever no water rescue can be ensured." Due to its size, it is impossible to monitor it in such a way that safe bathing is possible everywhere.
Cologne city ordinance: Paragraph 17 regulates where swimming is allowed
In § 17 waters - bathing and use in the Cologne city order it says:
(1) Within the scope of this Ordinance, bathing in public waters is prohibited.
Swimming at your own risk is only permitted in the designated bathing facilities, ie in the Fühlinger See swimming pool area (Blackfoot Beach, ed.), in the Escher See swimming pool area and in Vingster Bad.
Bathing in fountains and fountains is prohibited.
(2) Entering frozen waters is at your own risk.
Fühlinger See in Cologne: Swimming allowed from 2023?
Mayor Reker wants to examine options
"We can therefore not currently allow swimming in the Fühlinger See outside of the outdoor pool at "Blackfoot Beach"," says the mayor, knowing full well that not every Cologne resident will probably stick to it - it was already in the past, warm months the Fühlinger See is one of the most popular destinations in all of Cologne.
"For next year, it will be examined whether or under what conditions an expansion of the bathing possibility is possible, also taking into account nature conservation," the mayor at least gives hope for the future.
(mo)
