Letter From The President and Chair Of The Board 

“For many years Baltimore’s Waterfront has been the beautiful backdrop of our charming city, but it is so much more than that. For most visitors, it is their introduction to Baltimore and the memory that they will take away from their time here. For those closer to home, it offers infinite connection points, where on any given day you can experience history, nature, art and recreation that weaves its way throughout our 36 acres of waterfront parks, our seven miles of waterfront promenade, and the hundreds of businesses that are as unique as the neighborhoods they call home.

2026 was a special year, as Baltimore was one of only six cities in the country to serve as host to the International Tall Ships to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Sail250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore attracted over 600,000 visitors to our waterfront and generated over $114 million in economic impact for the region. We also welcomed 4.7 million out-of-market visitors throughout the season, 80% of whom traveled more than 10 miles to come here, and 20% – nearly 1 million people – visited from more than 250 miles away. Each one of them was greeted by our friendly waterfront guides, a clean and beautiful landscape, and more things to do than they could possibly fit into one visit.

While once-in-a-generation events like Sail250 put Baltimore in the national spotlight – where we shined brightly – we believe it is also crucial to prioritize and enhance the experience along the waterfront for the 40,000+ people that spend time here every day. Waterfront Partnership is doing this by expanding our offerings: bringing free fitness classes to the waterfront five days a week; adding 16 weeks of local music in our parks; making significant investments in improving our public spaces; strengthening our connection to the neighborhoods; and restoring the harbor itself. We dedicated ourselves to amplifying the activities and businesses throughout our district and focused on showcasing the everyday experiences that make our community truly special. By collaborating with partners, we shine a spotlight on the vibrant local nightlife, diverse shopping opportunities, rich cultural experiences, and the unique charm of waterfront life.

Just as we created more to do at the water, we expanded what you can do on, and even in, the water. We built out the Baltimore Blueway with a new kayak launch, signage, and rental facilities. We introduced free and discounted water taxi service to support special events. We swam in the harbor for the first time in two years and celebrated the first competitive swim in the harbor in living memory. All of this and more was highlighted in our first ever Waterfront Week – 10 days and more than 70 events, dedicated to showcasing the full range of activities and opportunities available at the waterfront all year long.

As a trusted Baltimore nonprofit with more than 20 years of stewardship of our district, we are uniquely positioned to champion capital projects, showcase arts and culture events, and encourage more people to live, work, and play at the waterfront. We are proud to do this in partnership with city agencies, creative communities, cultural institutions, volunteers, businesses, long-time neighbors, and growing families. Every day, we do our best to make sure our waterfront reflects the very best of Baltimore.”