Swimming in Baltimore’s Harbor Is Back This Summer
Baltimore’s Harbor still faces serious water quality issues, but that isn’t stopping the city from planning its second annual public swim event this summer.
On June 21, Harbor Splash will return to Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, where 200 participants will dive into the harbor in a symbolic celebration of the city’s efforts to make the water swimmable. The event, announced Wednesday by the Waterfront Partnership, will begin with a ceremonial jump at 9 a.m.
Last year, Mayor Brandon Scott, City Council members, and dozens of Baltimore residents took a leap into the harbor for the first officially sanctioned public swim in decades. It was meant to demonstrate confidence in the harbor’s improving safety for recreation.
“Fifteen years ago, swimming in the Harbor was a radical idea,” said Michael Hankin, president and CEO of Brown Advisory and chair of the Healthy Harbor Initiative. “Today, we’re seeing that vision become reality thanks to the tireless work of advocates, volunteers, and partners.”
The Waterfront Partnership, known for its popular trash wheels, has led a 15-year initiative to restore the harbor’s health. The city has invested over $1 billion to reduce pollution, particularly through upgrades to the regional wastewater system.
Still, progress remains uneven. Just last month, the environmental group Blue Water Baltimore released its annual water quality report card, showing that the harbor’s ecological health has actually declined over the past 13 years. The report measures the water’s ability to support aquatic life such as crabs, oysters, and underwater vegetation.
Even so, Adam Lindquist, vice president of the Waterfront Partnership, says the harbor is safer for swimmers than in the past. In fact, the Fells Point location passed state water safety standards for recreational use in 83% of tests in 2024. Most of the failed tests occurred after rainfall, which tends to carry pollution from streets into the harbor via storm drains.
Other harbor sites also met water quality standards in the majority of cases, according to a new assessment released by the Waterfront Partnership on Wednesday.
“Harbor Splash is just the start,” said Lindquist. “We envision a future where the harbor becomes a hub for races, water sports, and family-friendly fun, not just restoration.”
To participate in the 2025 Harbor Splash, swimmers must be 18 or older. Registration opens at noon on May 28 at www.HarborSplash.org.
