Bicycle path Sĺňava



The idea of building a recreation ring for walkers, inline skaters and cyclists at Sĺňava Lake was started in 2000 by the non-profit organization ProPolis. This location was chosen for its beautiful view of the surrounding scenery – the surface of the water, the silhouette of the mountains and the remnants of flooded forest seen from the top of the dam. In addition to this, Sĺňava is a bird sanctuary, a temporary or permanent haven for various varieties of our feathered friends; a further enhancement to the region.

The people from ProPolis were inspired by foreign examples that show how nature can be used appropriately to create attractive places for sports and recreation. However, in Piešťany you cannot find many examples of buldings that originated out of public initiative, so there were a lot of skeptics that gave low odds to the intention to build Kolokruh (Roundring). There were really a lot of obstacles to be overcome, until things started moving forward.

The project has been implemented by ProPolis together with the close cooperation of the Town of Piešťany and the Slovak Water Management Company and its Piešťany Branch; without this assistance the work could not have been done. Respect for the environment and for sustainable development has been the byword for the plan from the outset.
The task is still far from being finished, but the 1st, 3rd and 4th sections, totaling 5 km, have already been opened to the public. Simply put, this represents the whole right side of the River Váh and the lake – from Krajinský Bridge to the Drahovce Dam.

Nearly € 550,000 has been spent on this financially demanding project. ProPolis contributed the sum of € 33,000 to this, mostly thanks to the people and companies who sent 2% of their revenue tax every year to build this project and to sponsor further activities connected to sustainable development.
A traffic survey revealed that it would be risky to let inline skaters and cyclists on the dam summit, as skaters are classified by law as pedestrians. For this reason it was determined that the passage along the top of the dam had to be redeveloped into a new road devoted to cyclists. They will have the opportunity to try out the newly built 1st section between Krajinský Bridge and Lodenica (Mooring Area) this spring.

All the people engaged in the project believe that in the future they will find funding to successfully finish further sections of the 11,950 m long track of Kolokruh (Roundring). If that is the case, Piešťany will have gained a new sport and recreation facility for children of all ages in this unique natural environment. The project’s development proves that civil initiatives in our region can build not only roads, but also self esteem and cultural heritage.


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