Leeds campaigners launch bid to make city a ‘Swimmable City’ with community walk
‘This is about much more than swimming’
Environmental campaigners, outdoor swimmers and supporters are launching the Make Leeds A Swimmable City campaign this week with a community walk from Leeds Dock to Thwaite Mills and back.
The campaign, which launches on the 21st annual World Rivers Day, aims to highlight the value of blue spaces in supporting public health, nature and the local economy.
Campaigners are also calling for Leeds City Council to become a signatory of the international “Swimmable Cities” alliance.
The event is organised by local campaigners and co-led by Dr Fiona Turner and Leeds councillor Jordan Bowen. Earlier this month, campaigners staged a protest swim at Leeds Dock, calling for the area’s open water swimming licence to be restored.
Cllr Bowen, who represents Roundhay Ward and is chair of the Licensing Committee, said: “I fully support this initiative to Make Leeds a ‘Swimmable City’ and I am actively raising the issue with my Councillor colleagues.
“The walk on World Rivers Day is an opportunity to celebrate and augment Leeds City Council’s leadership in building climate-resilient communities and protecting the waterways and natural spaces that make our city such a great place to live and visit.”
According to organisers, swimmable urban waterways provide improved physical, mental and social wellbeing and create inclusive civic spaces.
Other benefits include environmental resilience, stronger local communities, and enhanced biodiversity and ecosystems, campaigners argue.
Co-organiser Dr Turner said World Rivers Day 2026 is a global initiative to acknowledge the importance of protecting rivers and blue spaces.
“We want to build on Leeds City Council’s existing work to protect our waterways and request that the City endorses the ‘Swimmable Cities’ Charter,” she said.
“This is about much more than swimming: ‘swimmability’ is a powerful catalyst for the regeneration of social, cultural, ecological and economic systems in urban communities.”
Swimmable Cities is a global initiative inspired by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Its objective is to champion “swimmability” in urban planning, with the goal of restoring rivers, lakes, coastlines, waterfronts and public spaces that support health, climate resilience and urban life.
The Swimmable Cities alliance is made up of 251 organisations across 121 cities and towns in 38 countries.
In the UK, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Bromsgrove, Cambridge, Durham, Lancaster, Liverpool, London, Loughborough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norwich, Plymouth, Oxford, Stroud, St Agnes and Swansea are signatories.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council is always keen to promote the health benefits of activities such as outdoor swimming where it is safe to do so.
“We recognise the value that open water swimming can bring to residents and are supportive of opportunities that enable people to be active, safely and in different ways.
“We are open to further conversations with interested parties to ensure this valuable form of exercise is available to Leeds residents."