There has been much conversation surrounding the possibility of opening a public outdoor pool/Lido in Dublin’s George’s Dock for many years, some of it constructive, some of it grounded in snobbery, entitlement and downright racism.
With a Change.org petition in favour of opening an outdoor swimming facility for the use of Dublin residents, started by the Dublin City Lido Committee, receiving over 4,500 signatures. Dublin City Council’s public consultation on the future of George’s Dock has concluded, and the results have been shared with councillors.
With over 2,000 responses, findings show that 70% of respondents proposed recreational use for the site and of this, 90% supported a public swimming pool or Lido. These results demonstrate public interest in the site and support for a public, water based amenity.
The next steps outlined by Councillors in relation to the future of George’s Dock include short term activations to “reanimate the space” as well as longer term planning and financial models, which is the priority of the Dublin City Lido Committee.
We’ll be doing a deeper dive into this story in an upcoming issue.
