In 2014 , Mr . Trash Wheel , the well-loved sustainably powered floating trash receptor , was introduced . Local inventor John Kellett conceived this design , while Waterfront Partnership added five-foot googly eyes and created its persona to engage the public in restoring the harbor . Mr . Trash Wheel , who collects trash before it can travel to nearby waterways , has become so popular that he has more than 36,000 Instagram followers and a yearly birthday party complete with a trash cake . Data collected from Mr . Trash Wheel — who now has a family of three other trash receptors around the Harbor ( learn more on page 72 )— has also been used to help pass local environmental legislation , including the banning of plastic bags in Baltimore City .
“ The ability to have a fan base , combined with photos and data , has really helped us make longterm change in the health of our waterways ,” said Adam Lindquist , vice president of Waterfront Partnership .
Thanks to initiatives like these , Waterfront Partnership achieved its goal in 2024 — a milestone that was celebrated last June with more than 150 people jumping off a pier in Fell ’ s Point , the city ’ s first official swimming event in 80 years . While swimming is still only recommended during organized events , those looking to experience the Patapsco River up close will be happy to know that the Harbor Splash is returning this summer , along with a longer swim across the harbor for advanced swimmers . Spectators are encouraged to cheer on splashers from Bond Street Wharf , Brown ’ s Wharf or Broadway Pier — you may spot some Baltimore-inspired swimming costumes !
The water can also be enjoyed more regularly through the Baltimore Blueway , a curated network of eight waterway trails for canoes , kayaks , rowboats and stand-up paddleboards .
“ You can go from the heart of the city to being lost in a wetland in three miles or less ,” Lindquist said .
Bring your own boat and enter the water via the Fell ’ s Point kayak launch , or take a guided tour offered by Ultimate Watersports , Waterfront Partnership or Baltimore City Parks and Recreation .
KATIE PUMPHREY IS AN OPEN WATER SWIMMER AND VISUAL ARTIST .
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Katie Pumphrey Is Using Her Sport to Champion Environmental Progress
If you thought Harbor Splashers spending just a few minutes in Baltimore ’ s harbor was exciting , meet Katie Pumphrey . The ultramarathon swimmer made a lot of noise with her 24-mile Bay to Baltimore swim last June . Having dreamt of a local swim into the Baltimore Harbor for years , she called Waterfront Partnership about collaborating on an event after she learned that the water was ready for organized swimming .
At 3:19 a . m . on June 25 , 2024 , Pumphrey began her swim at Sandy Point State Park next to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge — the location of her first long swim in 2010 , the 4.4-mile Great Chesapeake Bay Swim — and dove into the dark water for her nearly 14-hour journey to the Inner Harbor . She had an aggressive hydration plan in place due to warm air and water temperatures ; a full boat with a support crew , including
SCHAUN CHAMPION
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