BANJA LUKA OPENS NEW RECREATIONAL CENTER

The former military playground located within Banja Luka’s Aquana Water Park has been completely transformed, much to the delight of local children and their parents.

The new sports and recreation complex has been officially opened, and the city’s mayor, Draško Stanivuković, spent time with many of the young visitors during the opening ceremony.

“This is the largest sports and recreational center in the city. Spread across more than 11,000 square meters, it offers everything a young person, athlete, recreational enthusiast, child, or pensioner could need. We have completed the construction of the biggest complex of its kind — it’s a park, a space for sports, leisure, and enjoyment for all generations. What was once an abandoned military field next to Borik and Aquana has now been completely renovated. We invested significant resources to give it new life,” said Mayor Stanivuković.

The area now features everything from children’s playgrounds to multiple sports courts.

“There will also be an open-air gym, a military-style obstacle course for adrenaline lovers, and proper sports grounds — football, basketball, and padel courts that we plan to add soon. There will be tables for table tennis, a skating area, and hospitality facilities. Covering over 11,000 square meters, this is something unique not only for Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but for the entire Balkan region. The number of children, grandparents, athletes, and citizens visiting shows that we’ve done the right thing. This place will host major tournaments, concerts, and festivals. What was once a dark and neglected space will now become a place everyone loves,” the mayor emphasized.

Stanivuković also highlighted the city’s ongoing development and the numerous projects already completed.

“As we move forward, we do not forget what Banja Luka once had — from fountains to historic sports grounds. We have built five new parks, promenades, an observation point, the Central Memorial, a sports gymnasium, a new elementary school, the ‘Predah’ home, and renovated the Construction School. We are restoring Kastel Fortress and have opened a new cultural landmark, the Milanović House. We’ve left more marks on this city than ever before in its history,” concluded the mayor of the city on the Vrbas River.