Latest news with #WaterfrontPartnership
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Baltimore's second "Harbor Splash" event expected to see more than 200 participants
More than 200 participants are expected to jump into Baltimore City's Inner Harbor on Saturday, July 19, for the second "Harbor Splash" event, according to an announcement from the Waterfront Partnership. The event will kick off at the Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, and accommodate swimmers ages 18 and up. The event is now sold out. The event celebrates the progress that the city has made in improving the harbor's water quality. At the forefront of cleanup efforts has been the Healthy Harbor Initiative, which was established by the Waterfront Partnership in 2010 with the goal of creating a swimmable and fishable waterfront. Is Baltimore's Inner Harbor swimmable? According to the Waterfront Partnership, the harbor is generally swimmable if it has not rained within the prior 48 hours. Still, there is a risk of stomach or respiratory illness for those with compromised immune systems or those with open wounds. Swimmers should be mindful to only swim around areas that are deep enough to prevent contact with sediment, as the bottom of the harbor contains pollutants that should not be stirred up. Improved Inner Harbor water quality and ecosystem The Waterfront Partnership said it has worked extensively to improve the Inner Harbor's water quality and ecosystem since 2013. "When we launched the Healthy Harbor Initiative in 2010, floating trash was considered an intractable way of life. Trash booms at outfalls were easily overwhelmed and skimmer boats required extensive fuel and manpower to operate," the partnership wrote in the 2024 Healthy Harbor Report Card. The Waterfront Partnership said that it's worked to improve the habitat for animals and small organisms. According to the report, more than 350,000 oysters are now grown in the harbor annually. Oysters are a critical component of Maryland's economy and help filter water. First "Harbor Splash" saw success The first Harbor Splash event that took place in June 2024 had a turnout of nearly 150 swimmers, including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. It marked the first public swimming event in the Inner Harbor in more than 40 years. "We know our work is far from over, but we must start swimming. It's a commitment to keep working to ensure that our ecosystem thrives and that swimming in the harbor becomes a routine occurrence," Michael Hankin, president and CEO of Brown Advisory and chairman of Waterfront Partnership's Healthy Harbor Initiative, said. Baltimore ultra-marathon swimmer completes six-hour swim in Inner Harbor In April, Baltimore open-water ultra-marathon swimmer Katie Pumphrey completed a six-hour swim in the Inner Harbor. Pumphrey used the swim to encourage others to swim in the open water and as a qualifying practice for her third English Channel crossing. "More and more is happening, I'm really excited for this to be a more regular thing," Pumphrey said. "Open water swimming should be done with a lot of safety in place and with all things in mind. Our Inner Harbor is a beautiful place for open water swimming." In 2024, Pumphrey also completed a more than 12-hour swim from the Chesapeake Bay to the Inner Harbor.
CBS News
04-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore announces new president, Dan Taylor
BALTIMORE -- The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore has announced Dan Taylor as its new president Tuesday, succeeding Laurie Schwartz who will retire on June 30, 2025. Taylor joins from the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), where he served as Vice President of Business and Neighborhood Development for nearly 12 years, overseeing major projects including the Harborplace redevelopment and Harbor Point park developments. The leadership change coincides with the Partnership's 20th anniversary and follows Schwartz's tenure, which saw the creation of Rash Field Park, the Healthy Harbor Initiative, and the Inner Harbor Ice Rink. "Dan's deep knowledge of Baltimore's waterfront and proven leadership make him the right person to carry forward the Waterfront Partnership's mission," said Tim O'Donald, chairman of the organization's board. Taylor, who holds a master's degree in community planning from the University of Maryland, will join as incoming president in May to ensure a smooth transition. He has served on the Partnership's board since 2021 and is active in several community organizations. Notable events in Baltimore The Waterfront Partnership is a nonprofit focused on enhancing Baltimore's waterfront district through public space improvements and community programs. Notable events and programs put on by the organization include the Rooftop Winter Village at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, and programming for the CIAA Men's and Women's Tournament, which is forecasted to bring more than 150,000 student-athletes and basketball fans to CFG Bank Arena this year. In May 2024, the nonprofit hosted the city's 2024 Harbor Splash Event, which invited the public to dive into Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The event celebrated a decade of cleanup efforts by the Waterfront Partnership as part of its Healthy Harbor Initiative.
