Harbor Swim

Baltimore has always had a reciprocal relationship with the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. From the city’s founding, the waterfront provided Baltimore’s residents with an array of natural resources and a convenient means of transport. Sadly, the industrial success and rapid urbanization that were enabled by Baltimore’s waterways contributed directly to their pollution and degradation. With the goal of celebrating the harbor as a vulnerable, precious resource, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore engaged Jonathan Ceci Landscape Architects to generate a visionary plan for a public swim spot on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Our design creates a spacious floating beach in the southwest corner of the harbor. The space is scaled to host a large number of visitors and is delineated by a sweeping circular boardwalk in a configuration suggestive of an atoll and lagoon—or of a gargantuan life ring. Life-guard stands, a kayak rental booth, and beach umbrellas are accented with Calvert black and gold from the Maryland flag to mark the zone as a festive public gathering space. Visitors approach the boardwalk and swim area via ramps over islands of floating salt marsh. Once on the floating dock, they can enjoy swimming, lounging or strolling against the backdrop of Baltimore’s skyline.