Berlin's Left Party Pushes for Rooftop Pools for Lower-Income Communities
In the heart of Berlin, a group of activists, led by Tobias Schulze from the Left party, are working towards a common goal: making the city's Spree river swimable in the city centre once more. The organiser of this initiative, Verein Flussbad Berlin, has been advocating for this change for some time.
The first demonstration took place in early summer, with around 400 brave participants daring to venture into the water. Despite concerns from long-time Berliners, Kerstin Wolter, the 39-year-old leader of the Left party, was among those who took the plunge. Wolter, who hails from Perleberg, which is only about 20 kilometers from the Elbe, seems to have a natural affinity for large bodies of water.
The demonstration, however, depends on the current water quality and weather conditions. The organisers reported an international media echo but lamented that the responsible administration or the Berlin Senate has not yet lifted the Berlin bathing ban.
The idea of a river bath in Mitte, the city centre, has gained support from several swimming activists, including Green Party MP Silke Gebel and SPD member Mathias Schulz, who will speak at the demonstration. The organisers also believe that a 100-year swimming ban in the city Spree is enough.
It's worth noting that, based on the available data, there is no recent information about a proposal to create rooftop swimming pools in social housing in Berlin or similar projects in other cities. The search results mostly discussed other topics related to Berlin, such as increasing homelessness projections, tourist attractions, and local municipal news.
However, a basic measure against the overloading and pollution of rivers and lakes is the implementation of the sponge city concept. This approach, which is yet to be fully implemented in Berlin, could potentially contribute to making the Spree swimmable again in the future.
The demonstration is scheduled for Schinkelplatz at the foot of the construction site for the Freedom and Unity Monument. If you're interested in learning more about rooftop swimming pools in urban settings or known social housing innovations with recreational amenities, please let us know. Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing initiative to make the Spree swimable once more.
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