SUN: Baltimore swimmers take on Harbor Splash as water hits ‘tipping point’

BALTIMORE — Under blue skies and temperatures in the 80s Sunday afternoon, about 50 swimmers dove into Baltimore’s harbor in Fells Point, tossing around a water polo ball and drifting along on floating rafts as a small crowd of awestruck onlookers watched from ashore.

For decades, “nobody would dream of jumping into the harbor,” said Adam Lindquist, vice president of the Waterfront Partnership — and some city residents are still wary. Over the past 15 years, some indicators of water quality in the harbor have significantly improved, while others have declined.

Yet as dozens of swimmers floated along the surface of the somewhat clear water Sunday, flanked by kayaks and lifeguards, Baltimore’s harbor looked refreshing, even inviting.

“People like to give Baltimore [a] bad rap, and I love surprising people with good news of Baltimore,” said Christine Parker, a Highlandtown resident who took the plunge into the 69-degree waters on Sunday. “It was nice and cool, early enough in the season.”

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