Last year’s “Harbor Splash,” the first public swimming event in the Baltimore harbor in decades, sold out in 10 minutes. But another opportunity to dip into the harbor is opening up soon.
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore is planning to hold the event again on June 21, with room for 200 participants to plunge into the water by the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point. Registration for this year’s event will open at noon May 28 for $30.
The public swims, as well as ultramarathon swimmer Katie Pumphrey’s lengthy treks into the harbor, follow years of infrastructure improvements that have reduced pollution in Baltimore’s waterfront, though a report this year from the nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore shows that the region’s water quality is generally in decline. Monitoring has shown that water quality in the harbor can meet Maryland’s standard for swimming, though factors like boat traffic, weather and sediment can make that fluctuate, the Waterfront Partnership said in a news release.
Laurie Schwartz, president of the Waterfront Partnership, said in a statement that the “demand and excitement from last year proved that the public is ready to engage with the water in a whole new way.”
“Events like Harbor Splash and Katie’s swim are a powerful signal that our vision for a swimmable, fishable Baltimore Harbor is not only achievable, but it’s happening,” she said.
This year’s splash will kick off at 9 a.m. with a ceremonial jump, followed by eight timed swimming sessions. Participants must be 18 or older, and the swims will be monitored by a watersports event management company for safety.
The Waterfront Partnership recommends that the public sign up for the Harbor Splash’s newsletter to receive priority notification for registration.
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