Mechelen’s New Water Park: A Sustainable Project

Sarhan Basem

Mechelen (Brussels Morning) – The Plopsaqua water park in Mechelen will be a 50 million euro project with high standards set from the start to ensure support and success.

There’s gonna be a new water park and swimming pool in Mechelen, Belgium coming in 2026. It’s gonna cost around fifty million euros. This will be the third Plopsaqua place by Plopsa Group joining the ones in De Panne and Landen-Hannuit. But there have been some folks not too happy about it like the Green Buffer action group. Plopsa had to tweak their plans a couple of times because the Provincial Environmental Permit Committee wasn’t on board initially. The city’s been picky about it too making sure everything’s top-notch. The parking area got moved and the design got spruced up to fit the area better. Greet Geypen the alderman seems pretty keen on making sure it’s a quality project for Mechelen.

How is Mechelen Balancing a New Water Park with Environmental Preservation?

Greet Geypen Mentioned that the city’s development did not happen suddenly or without careful planning. Instead it implies that the city’s leaders and stakeholders set high standards for the project from the beginning with the goal of garnering support from various parties. This approach likely involved careful planning. consultation and collaboration to ensure that the project was well-received and successful.

Basically the folks from the action committee really wanted to keep this forest Zennebeemdenbos safe and sound. The city made sure that when they built the new swimming area they also made sure to save as much greenery as possible. They promised to protect the valuable forest forever. Most of the green stuff stays as it is and even the trees they had to remove they’re planting double the number somewhere else in Mechelen even though they didn’t have to by law. Geypen wanted to make sure Mechelen stayed green and lush even with the new swimming spot.

Battle for Greenery: Action Group Challenges Plopsa’s Water Park Venture in Mechelen

The action committee is not happy about the permit for Plopsaqua. They’re appealing it because they want to make sure that no trees get cut down just yet. They’re really focused on protecting the trees and greenery in the area. They’re taking a stand to ensure that the environment is preserved before any construction work begins.

The city made sure everyone who had to give their opinion on the project liked it before saying yes. They needed the Nature and Forest Agency the Flemish Environment Agency and others to be on board. After some changes to the permit application all the advice was positive or mostly positive. So, the city decided to give the permit on Monday. Plopsa is happy they finally got the permit. They think Mechelen is a great city with lots of young people and families which are the folks they want to attract.

Carl Lenaerts says:

“Mechelen is a fantastic, vibrant city with many young people and families, our target group”

In a new water park called Gnome Plop there will be fun attractions like a big slide tower, wave pool, lazy river, water playground and more. It will also have three pools including a large swimming pool with lanes a diving zone and pools for beginners. The park aims to double the city’s swimming capacity and inspire kids with science and technology. They plan to have 400,000 visitors by 2028 and may offer combo tickets.

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
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