€12.5M Overhaul Planned for Santa Cruz's Acidalio Lorenzo Pool

The Acidalio Lorenzo municipal swimming pool is set for a major overhaul. The facilities are over 60 years old, in poor condition, and difficult to access for some. This sports complex, a key swimming spot in Tenerife's capital, will undergo a complete redesign. The project, costing 12.5 million euros, will start by tearing down one of the stands, which is currently closed because it's at risk of collapsing.

The Santa Cruz City Council is already looking for money to fund this extensive renovation. They see the swimming pool as a vital project for the city and are asking the Government of the Canary Islands for financial help.

Alicia Cebrián, the Councillor for Sports, explained that this is "an ambitious and much-needed project." She noted that the pool is used heavily every day and is crucial for both sports and public safety.

Santa Cruz is a coastal area, and sadly, many people still drown there. Because of this, the Sports Department views swimming as a vital skill. Cebrián stressed, "Our aim is for everyone to know how to swim, or at least feel safe moving around in the water."

This dedication is clear from how busy the Acidalio Lorenzo pool is every day. It's open from 6 AM to 10 PM, closes just four days a year, and hosts swimming lessons, weekend competitions, club training, and urban sports events.

The councillor added that the Acidalio Lorenzo pool is "a unique facility in the city." It can host everything from casual swimming to top-level training and competitions, and she believes it "deserves a big improvement in quality."

The idea for this major renovation came after a month-long public consultation. Citizens, including users, clubs, and athletes, shared their ideas about what the pool really needed via the city's website. This feedback was also supported by a technical report from the Spanish Swimming Federation, which detailed what's required to host national and international competitions.

Cebrián emphasized, "We didn't want a renovation decided by just one group. We listened to citizens, clubs, and athletes, and we also used expert technical advice. The result is a plan that everyone agrees on, is realistic, and will benefit everyone."

Using all this information, the Infrastructure department drew up an initial project plan. This plan has already been shown to sports clubs and shared with the public through the media.

The initial plan outlines a full renovation that will happen in stages. This approach aims to keep the pool open and ensure services continue. Key planned changes include building a new pool, a management office, bigger and better changing rooms, storage areas, training rooms, a medical area, offices for sports clubs, and updated stands with more practical features and movable seating.

Alongside this big renovation, the City Council is also making immediate improvements to the pool. These focus mainly on updating and expanding the changing rooms to meet growing demand and provide family changing rooms, which help make the facility more inclusive and comfortable for users.

These ongoing efforts include renovating the current male and female changing rooms, converting some into family changing rooms, and building new ones. An infirmary and an elevator are also being installed to ensure the pool meets all necessary accessibility standards.

Cebrián concluded, "We know users are concerned about the pool's current state. That's why we're already taking action, while also working towards creating a modern, accessible, and top-quality swimming pool."