Over the last four years we as a group of local residents in BS5 and BS16 have been looking at how to improve facilities in Eastville Park.  We use our Park often, even 3 times a day.  We began an open conversation with local residents who wanted to create a community hub for Eastville. We were strongly inspired by the old Eastville Park swimming baths and the history of outdoor swimming in the park.

We carried out a survey of park users looking at all aspects of the park (which can be found at ‘Eastville Park Lido’ Facebook page and in the ‘survey’ section of this website) and discovered that people want better children’s play facilities, a café that acts a community hub where they can also watch over their children whilst they play, and increased facilities for health and well-being.

This consultation has shown strong local support for a Lido with Cafe in Eastville Park. This would make the Park safer and more inclusive for all people in the community from whatever walk of life. The old swimming baths in Eastville Park were bombed in the war, and never reinstated. With a lack of staff time and money available from the local council, we, as a group of residents, have worked on new plans to deliver an Eastville Park Lido for the local community. Having looked at figures for construction, service connections and proximity to neighbouring houses we believe that the second bowling green site, would be perfect to include a community café and outdoor swimming facilities. Services for the community would be open 6/7 days a week and throughout the year. It would be run by people within the community with the experience and knowledge to do so, with a mix of paid staff and volunteers 

The primary purpose of the Lido project is to promote community health, well-being and cohesion for Eastville and the greater North-East region of Bristol. We also aim to find ways to safeguard and enhance the existing open space and sports infrastructure, by developing a high level of resident involvement. With Bristol City Council parks department experiencing ongoing cuts we felt that we needed to come together to provide what the community needed.

The community project will be set up as a not-for-profit social enterprise with money being funneled back into the park to help with upkeep and activities, e.g. desilting the lake, supporting volunteers, or running nature led activities within the park.  The aim would be to make it an affordable entry fee and be managed by the community.

From the surveys that we have carried out over the last three years we know that the community project has very strong support locally.