As stated a few weeks ago in a press release from the Vilnius City Municipality, the planned area includes the western bank of the Neris River along the Vilnius University Botanical Garden, the existing Vingis Park pet beach, and the area up to the rugby and athletics stadiums.
Currently, there is already a beach with infrastructure in the area, but, as the municipality stated, it “lacks a variety of functions, especially activities during the cold season.”
According to the capital’s mayor Valdas Benkunskas, quoted in the release, “we have not had such a sauna complex in the city until now, so this new recreational area will expand the possibilities of activities by the river and encourage a healthier, more active leisure.”
The work is planned in two stages. First, it is planned to install three 4-6 person modular saunas and all the necessary infrastructure. The beach will be equipped with water supply, sewage, and electrical networks necessary for sauna operation. Vilnius City Municipality also states that it will announce a competition to select a private operator who will install mobile saunas and continue sauna activities in three specially prepared beach locations.
We have not had such a sauna complex in the city until now, so this new recreational area will expand the possibilities of activities by the river and encourage a healthier, more active leisure.
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At the same time, it is planned to install public stationary modular toilets and showers, which can be used by both sauna and beach visitors, additional benches and sun loungers, and a lifeguard rest area. The project also includes landscaping the beach area and better adapting it for visitors. New dirt pedestrian paths, an asphalted entrance, rest areas, exercise equipment, bicycle racks, information stands, and a drinking water station are planned here. All solutions are designed to ensure comfortable movement for everyone, including people with disabilities.
In the second stage, it is planned to install a naturalistic design children’s playground, which will complement the recreational area near the beach as well as the sports and wellness zone.
This project was publicly presented in the Botanical Garden at the end of May.
Not everyone liked it
However, both before and after the presentation, criticism of this idea was abundant on social networks.
