Discover the plans for BillyBird Park Duinenrijk
April 4, 2022
Sunbathe at the beach, play together in the indoor and outdoor playground and enjoy nature. That is what we have in mind with the new BillyBird Park Duinenrijk in Drunen. After many discussions with stakeholders and interested parties, we have adjusted our plans. In our new plans, the rowing pond will not be expanded into a beach pool. There will be an additional detached beach pool and a swimming lake for dogs, so that a large part of the area remains accessible to walkers and dogs.
Adjusted the original plan
Our original plan was to develop a recreational area within a fence. Just like BillyBird Park Hemelrijk in Volkel and BillyBird Open Air Swimming Pool Het Run. The rowing pond would be cleaned up and enlarged. The north side would be intended for swimming and the south side would consist of nature. We have explained our plans to various stakeholders and asked for their response. Reactions have been given from various quarters. Now the plan has been adjusted. “All stakeholders have been taken into account as best as possible. The new plan is therefore more spacious and contains more new nature,” says Ton Derks, initiator of Duinenrijk.
It is striking that there will soon be three puddles. The rowing pond is designed for fishermen and divers. There will be a new swimming hole. And there will be a new dog swimming lake, with a parking lot at Margriet. The Duinenrijk car park is accessible via the Duinweg. The question remains whether the entrance to the current parking lot will be used for this, or whether it can be done via the adjacent meadows. The public walking area will be expanded; from the Duinweg to the Margriet. So walkers can simply continue walking along the Rowing Pond and walk the dog. Meadows are forested. The beach of the swimming lake runs into the dunes. There will be the necessary play facilities outside and inside.
The characteristics of a BillyBird Park
We want to repeat the BillyBird concept, which is characterized by the presence of a beach pool, but also a playground, indoor playground and nature, at Duinenrijk. “It is precisely the space that gives the feeling of freedom. The park is open all year round. Membership prices can remain low because the visitor capacity is large,” says Ton.
A new outdoor swimming pool
In the memo to the municipality of Heusden, we insist on building a new outdoor swimming pool at Duinenrijk. The current open-air swimming pool Het Run in Drunen is 60 years old and almost worn out. Ton Derks: “Compare it with building a house. Once you have started building, you can no longer say 'make the kitchen three times as big'. If you now know that you do or do not want to have an outdoor swimming pool in the future, you can now express it as a municipality. Then we will know whether we should include it in the design of the park. We would like the municipality to be in favor of a new outdoor swimming pool at Duinenrijk. We see that dew swimmers are a growing group and that many children and entire families enjoy the water attractions.”
The sequel
The report has now been presented to the municipal council. The report with the staining plan can also be downloaded by everyone. The municipal council will now decide whether to take the proposed route. An agreement of intent can soon be concluded with BillyBird. The municipality can then indicate which studies need to be carried out and which topics still require special attention. There will also be frequent consultations with the various stakeholders.
We would like to further shape the park in consultation with various associations and stakeholders. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us by sending an email to duinenrijk@billybird.nl
