structural development

All together for the Jonsdorf ice rink

The ice rink in Jonsdorf is not only popular with young and old. With its ice disco and family Sundays, it is hard to imagine winter leisure activities in our southern district without it - and a tourist magnet of importance that should not be underestimated.

In "normal" times, a closure would not have been discussed under any circumstances.

However, times of rising energy costs bring special challenges for such energy-intensive leisure facilities. Above all, the mayor of Jonsdorf, Kati Wenzel , but also district administrator Dr. Meyer and many citizens from the region prevent it. Kati Wenzel, who is also the managing director of the Jonsdorfer Kur- und Tourismusgesellschaft (KuT), which operates the ice rink, put it dramatically: "We fight for children's and youth sports, for the possibility of free ice skating and the preservation of our traditions". and asked for support donation website The ENO was also alerted. Clara Hartung and Laura Horst from our innovation and municipal team were in demand.

Although the two are not experts for ice arenas, they are certainly good at creating target-oriented solutions to complex challenges and conducting workshops accordingly. First of all, the two thought about an agenda for a workshop with the participation of citizens, experts and politicians and also which smart people in our district could provide input and inspiration for finding a solution. In their network, which of course spans the Zittau-Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the two quickly found what they were looking for. Last Saturday the time had come: over 40 dedicated people met in the ice arena to save the future of the ice rink. After the mayor gave an overview of the overall situation, the experts had their say.

The university in the form of Dipl.-Kffr. Ms. Langschwager from the Faculty of Management and Cultural Sciences is now working with her students on a tourist usage concept for the ice rink - butterfly house axis. At the same time, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Process Technology, Process Automation and Measurement (IPM) of the HSZG have indicated that they can imagine examining the operating model and the energetic side and possible technologies. By Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch at the IPM and Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Thomas Gubsch from the IPM gave exciting impulses in the direction of example projects "green district heating".

"The subsequent collection of ideas under the motto 'What can the hall do?' was overwhelming" report Laura and Clara, and that they were impressed by how many people had deliberately thought about further uses of the hall.

Only a few of the proposed ideas - just for the summer use of the hall - read quite promising. A climbing wall for children and professionals, but also a fitness course/fitness studio with various sports for young and old would be conceivable. Or also: a bike or roller skating track, an escape room, a miniature golf course, the organization of village festivals, a trampoline hall, concert events and much more, which is currently only pie in the sky, but still represents a glimmer of hope.

All of these considerations, some of which will be scientifically substantiated in the near future, can then hopefully be transferred to a funding application with the support of the surrounding municipalities, the two project managers explain. Laura and Clara are happy to be able to keep at it full of vigor - especially because the discussion and the mood - "Whether the ice rink belongs to Jonsdorf" turned out to be more than clearly PRO ice rink.

We will keep you up to date at this point! If you would like to get involved with the ice rink, please click here on the donation website .

Best regards

Your Clara, Laura and Jasna