As the deadline approaches quickly (just over a month and a half away), the various candidates for the Paris mayoralty keep unveiling their programs one after another. Among the favorite topics are transportation, ecology, and the Seine riverbanks. If we weren't completely sold on the plan to bring cars back to the riverbanks proposed by Sarah Knafo, Emmanuel Grégoire's idea to create a new bathing area also raises a few questions.
Ignored Parisians
A few days ago, left-wing candidate Emmanuel Grégoire shared on social media a photo of the Arsenal basin cleared of the numerous boats currently docked there, and filled with happy and relaxed swimmers, showcasing his desire to transform the space into a
« Bastille Plage ». It's a lovely image, no doubt, but it does raise some issues for a portion of the Parisian population.Le bassin de l’Arsenal est à vous !
— Emmanuel Grégoire (@egregoire) January 23, 2026
Après l’immense succès de cet été, je veux créer de nouveaux sites de baignade, comme ici !
La droite extrême et l’extrême droite défendent le droit à polluer, nous défendons le droit à respirer, un air propre, et que chacune et chacun… pic.twitter.com/h4oo6yqqhF
Right now, the bassin, located at the foot of the Place de la Bastille, is a port area that hosts dozens of boats, some of which serve as permanent residences. The residents of the Arsenal were quite taken aback by the photo of the former first deputy mayor of Paris, who seems to completely disregard their existence without offering any solution for their relocation.
A Complex Obligation
Just a reminder, the boats docked down there are required to leave for at least 3 weeks a year, including 7 consecutive days between June 1st and September 30th, to ensure a rotation of the vessels, but also their maintenance and their ability to navigate in case of...
as needed. However, creating a swimming area could extend this period, and it's not easy to find docking spots around the capital.La place de la Bastille poursuit sa transformation !
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) October 28, 2020
Grâce à un très bel escalier accessible sans grille, il est désormais possible pour les Parisiennes et les Parisiens de rejoindre le Canal Saint-Martin depuis la place et de profiter des abords du port de l’Arsenal. 🛥🌳🚶 pic.twitter.com/e8auTOdDTj
Emmanuel Grégoire assures that he is taking into account all the concerned parties in the planning of this future area. According to the candidate, the idea is not to eliminate all the parking spaces, but to “compact the port during the summer period to free up this swimming area.” Regardless, the local residents will be consulted before anything is implemented, he claims.