Outdoor swimming for the community.

Creating a community hub.

Creating access to nature and exercise.

Benefits to health and well-being.

Eastville park swimming baths was once a hub for the community that promoted health & well being. Let us bring this back to our community park.

We, as a group of local residents, believe that swimming should be brought back to the ‘People’s Park’ allowing many more people in the community to access outdoor activities within nature. The site would be the 2nd bowling green site, which is underused & enable the build of a larger pool.

This project is about allowing everyone in the community to access outdoor swimming facilities, to relax outdoors in nature & access the resulting health benefits. Encompassing people from all walks of life, cultures & ethnic backgrounds. The area stands to benefit from economic growth & cohesion through employment & the community’s engagement.

There is also a strong case developing at Portsmouth University from the Extreme Environments team that cold water swimming could help our mental health. Dr Mark Harper, the Outdoor Swimming Society’s cold expert cites “better metabolism, especially with regard to the way the body handles sugar” [1] This in turns reduces Cardio Vascular disease which is rising in Bristol.

We also know that connecting with nature helps urban dwellers to reduce anxiety; that natural light, even a feeble wintery one, boosts our levels of serotonin & Vitamin D, the lack of which are both linked to depression. Obesity amongst children & young people is growing. Providing services within walking distance which support health & well-being within nature are ever more paramount. Outdoor swimming also reduces social isolation & provides a space for friendships to grow as the camaraderie of swimming is a very big part of the activity.

Other ongoing campaigns to create lidos include reopening Broomhill Pool in Ipswich & Peckham Rye Lido in South East London. Cleveland Pools, at Hampton Row, Bath has been given 6 million pounds for restoration.

[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/brrr-joys-cold-water-swimming