Facebook appeal saves Engesvang outdoor pool for summer

A Facebook appeal has brought 14 new volunteers to Engesvang Friluftsbad, an outdoor swimming pool between Ikast and Silkeborg, securing its opening for the rest of the summer, DR reports.

The pool’s board had warned last week that it might have to close during the summer holidays because there were not enough volunteers to run the kiosk and handle cleaning.

“We had to make it very clear that it is not sustainable for the same people to keep the pool open,” said Tobias Bøggild-Damkvist, a member of the pool’s board.

The appeal quickly produced a response. Within a few hours, several people had contacted the board, and some offered to volunteer. The 14 new volunteers will help with cleaning and work in the kiosk.

A community-run pool

Engesvang Friluftsbad describes itself with the slogan “Yours. Mine. Ours.” Bøggild-Damkvist said the phrase reflects the spirit behind the facility.

The pool is run as a self-owning association. Only the lifeguards are paid; the rest of the operation depends on volunteers.

The immediate problem has been solved, but the same challenge could arise next year. The pool has about 400 members in its support association, 500 season-ticket holders and around 10,000 visitors during a season.

“If they each take just one shift, we can make the entire rota work,” Bøggild-Damkvist said.

The board plans to use this summer’s experience to make volunteering easier. After the season, it will hold a dialogue meeting to discuss how volunteering can become both simpler and more attractive.

Engesvang Friluftsbad is described as the oldest outdoor pool in the Nordic region. It is due to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2030.