Swimmable Cities

Erin Towsley, Associate Urban Designer, went to Swimmable Cities in Rotterdam and here are her key takeaways.

Three days of diving deeper  into what makes Swimmable Cities, and why we should care that they are:

•  The quality of our waterways are a direct reflection of wider environmental quality
• Free, accessible access to water supports physical, mental and social wellbeing
• Water is increasingly becoming a global challenge – too much, too little, too dirty – and when people are connected to waterspaces they are more likely to care for them
• Pressure on open spaces is high in dense urban environments. Waterways extend the public realm and whether you enjoy swimming or not, everyone has a connection to water
• Fish, birds and other animals are swimming in our waters regardless. Improving the health of our waterways improves the homes for our city’s co-inhabitants.

I hope that we are able to take these learnings forward in Maccreanor Lavington’s masterplan in Belfast Harbour and deliver opportunities for swimming and directly engaging with the River Lagan.

A huge thank you to the organisers of Swimmable Cities for bringing together such a diverse group of people passionate about water: activists, designers, athletes, scientists, artists, public officials and project managers. Stepping out of our professional silos is what it will take to tackle complex challenges like urban water systems.