Polytan PolyPlay S and Polytan LigaGrass Synergy at Markwasen Wave Pool

Recreation Close to Home with a Holiday Feel

For those living at the foot of the Swabian Alps who love wave action and the sound of the sea, long journeys are usually unavoidable – about 700 km south to the Adriatic or another hundred kilometers north to the North Sea. The journey is much shorter, however, to the Markwasen Wave Pool in Reutlingen. Today a major city in Baden-Württemberg, Reutlingen was once a free imperial city situated on the edge of the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve. Among the many historical buildings, the city is also home to the Spreuerhofstraße, officially documented in the Guinness World Records as the narrowest street in the world – averaging just 40 cm wide, narrowing to 31 cm at its slimmest point.

Another top attraction in Reutlingen is undoubtedly the Markwasen Wave Pool, nestled in a vast parkland. The centerpiece of the facility is its outdoor swimming area, established in 1954/55. This open-air pool replaced the historic Arbachbad, opened in 1854 at the confluence of the Arbach and the Echaz rivers – lauded in its time as a "proper bathing place for men, women, and children." Upon completion, the successor was considered the most modern outdoor pool in West Germany and featured a spectator stand accommodating 2,000 people, making it suitable for competitive events.

During the 1980s, the facility was augmented with a wave pool in a separate basin, which remains a highlight for many visitors. Various wave programs generate waves up to 1.5 meters high, creating a beach-like holiday atmosphere. The adjacent open-air pool includes a sports pool with 8 lanes and a length of 50 meters, a diving complex with towers ranging from 3 to 10 meters plus a separate diving pool, and an 80-meter-long giant water slide. The overall grounds boast spacious parklands with two tree-lined sunbathing areas, a FKK (nude) area, a children's play area featuring a baby pool and splash zone, and a sports arena with a beach volleyball field, climbing installations, and table tennis tables.

As part of ongoing upgrades to the premises, a new multifunctional sports field with basketball hoops and two PolyPlay Arena mini sports fields in the popular DFB dimensions of 20 x 13 meters have been added. The durable PolyPlay S all-round surface in brick red decorates the multifunctional field (480 m²). This was no coincidence, as it has proven reliable on school and ball sports grounds as well as numerous recreational facilities. Its smooth surface and excellent ball bounce characteristics make it an ideal surface for ball sports and a variety of outdoor applications. Polytan’s PolyPlay S is water-permeable, allowing it to dry quickly, making it usable year-round as an all-weather field. It ensures an even surface and is still non-slip. Other advantages include its great wear resistance and minimal maintenance requirements.

The two mini fields feature Polytan LigaGrass Synergy, our synthetic turf comprised of soft, flexible synergy filaments combined with larger, sturdy LigaGrass Pro filaments. This combination makes LigaGrass Synergy the perfect turf system for club and community sports. It ensures an authentic and pleasant playing and running experience while providing high player protection and skin-friendliness with minimal maintenance. Its BiColour design gives LigaGrass Synergy in Reutlingen a realistic "natural look" across an area of 532 m². The mini fields also included robust boards as well as goals and back nets, which can be optionally supplemented with side and roof nets.

But the modernization and improvement of the Markwasen Wave Pool aren’t finished yet. By the 2022 bathing season, the children's area will be renewed and made more appealing. This ensures that Reutlingen will continue to feature one of the most picturesque and largest open-air pools in Germany, establishing itself as a modern and family-friendly leisure destination for both the city and surrounding areas.