About 150 people plunge into Baltimore harbor for Harbor Splash: ‘Today is incredible’

A crowd lined the perimeter of Bond Street Wharf as about 150 people plunged into the Baltimore harbor on Sunday during Harbor Splash — the first public harbor swim event in decades.

Hosted by the Waterfront Partnership, a Baltimore nonprofit, the event celebrated decades of progress made in improving water quality in the harbor.

“There is still work to be done, and I don’t expect everyone to change their mind overnight, but today, I urge us all to reconsider our relationship with the Baltimore harbor and acknowledge that things have changed,” said Adam Lindquist, the director of Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative.

The event resembled a block party with attendees dancing around in beach-inspired attire. Some participants — like Charles Village resident Peter Jackson — even brought inflatables to enjoy while swimming off the Fells Point floating pier.

“Today is incredible,” said Jackson, with an inflatable flamingo around his waist. “I spent my entire life here, and a lot of my time has been spent right along this water, and I never had the opportunity to go in — and all of that changed today.”

Each swimmer was equipped with a life vest and given a few minutes to swim and relish the water before the next group of swimmers was called to jump in.