Swimming Has Been Approved at Lilyfield's Callan Park — and It's Scoring a New Tidal Pool

Sydney is on a hot streak with new swimming spots right now. Fresh areas for a dip have been popping up all across the city, whether it's Barangaroo's new city beach, the restoration and reopening of the historic Dawn Fraser Baths, or zones dotted along the Parramatta River. And, things aren't slowing down, with the Inner West's Callan Park the next location bookmarked to host summer swims.

Located along the Bay Run in Lilyfield, the 61-hectare heritage park sits alongside the Parramatta River. Following two years of exhaustive water testing, swimming at the park has just been given the tick of approval, with the Inner West Council announcing plans to transform the waterfront into a swimmer's paradise.

Following the approval, a new 50-metre tidal pool will now be built at the site. Significant features of the pool include swimming lanes, an expansive jetty, and two moored pontoons for sunbathing and diving.

"With its position at the heart of the Bay Run, the Callan Park tidal pool can become a Sydney icon," Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said. "With our location finalised and all approvals now granted, we are ready to partner with the New South Wales Government to fund the construction of this beautiful new swim site."

Alongside the water testing, environmental impact research, river-depth analysis and floor quality testing were all undertaken in order to gain approval.

Swimming at Callan Park has been five years in the making, with a plan to clean up the waterways and get the go-ahead first announced back in 2018.

The popular Lilyfiled park is set to become the sixth swim spot to land along Parramatta River, joining Bayview Park, Dawn Fraser Baths, Cabarita Park Beach, Chiswick Baths and Lake Parramatta. The Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) is also enquiring into reintroducing swimming to the likes of Bedlam Bay, McIlwaine Park and Putney Park in the future.

Callan Park is located on Balmain Road, Lilyfield.