Elva Parish in Estonia Weighs Who Should Build a Pool and Spa Complex Costing at Least €15 Million

The council of Elva Parish in Tartu County, Estonia, has put the detailed plan for a complex with a swimming pool and a spa hotel out for public consultation. The next decision is who will finance and operate it: the local municipality or a private entrepreneur. The preliminary cost is at least €15 million, according to ERR radio news.

ERR's Russian-language service wrote about plans for a modern pool and spa hotel in central Elva as early as June 2025. At that time the detailed plan was in its final stage, and the authorities were hoping to attract private investors.

Proposed location

Under the plan, the complex could be built on a plot between Lake Arbi and the Elva sports centre. Aare Anderson, the parish mayor (elder), says that having its own pool would make it possible to hold swimming lessons for schoolchildren in Elva. At present children mostly have to travel to Tartu for them.

Two ways to deliver the project

Anderson says the municipality is considering two options: building and operating the complex itself, or bringing in the private sector. He admits it is not yet known whether an entrepreneur willing to take on the project will be found. If the parish builds the complex itself, the spa hotel would most likely be dropped.

Priit Värv, the former parish mayor, who promoted the project for many years and now represents the opposition on the council, believes the municipality's job is to create conditions for construction, while investment and later management should be left to the private sector.

In his view, spa and hotel services should not become a direct area of activity for the municipality. He considers it more sensible to direct public money to developing public infrastructure and to let private investors put money into building and running the complex.