The Urbanist Swimmable Cities Summit: Urban waterways as an indicator for quality of life
Jun 26, 2025
Paul Steinbrook, co-founder of Pool is Cool, advocates for making Brussels’ waterways swimmable, emphasizing that access to clean water is vital for urban quality of life. At the Swimmable Cities Summit in Rotterdam, he discusses global efforts to revitalize urban waterways, transforming them into community assets. Topics include the FLOW project’s participatory design approach and citizen initiatives like the rehabilitation of Johannesburg's Jukeske River. Steinbrook highlights the environmental and social benefits of swimming in urban spaces, fostering community engagement and ecological sustainability.
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Swimmable Cities Summit Splash Start
- The Swimmable Cities Summit started with participants literally swimming together in the Rhinehaven, Rotterdam.
- This shared aquatic experience broke down barriers and energized attendees for the conference's goals.
Swimmability as Quality Indicator
- Swimmability reflects a city's quality of life, especially in water-rich places like Rotterdam.
- Reclaiming waterways from industrial use to recreation boosts urban health and resilience.
Olympian Pioneers Urban Swimming
- Olympian Toby Robinson swam the River Seine at the Paris Olympics, experiencing unique open-water challenges.
- This inspired his mission to help cities like London clean their rivers for public swimming.