by Emily Spatz
Boston Globe
Hundreds of people decked out in swimsuits, caps, and goggles lined up at the Fiedler Dock along the Esplanade on Saturday before cannonballing into the Charles River for a rare sanctioned swim.
Some splashed about before climbing out, while others lingered a bit longer, taking in the stunning vantage point of the city. Everyone seemed to love their time in that much-less-dirty-than-before water.
After a two-year hiatus, the Charles River Conservancy’s City Splash attracted hundreds of bathers, from first-timers to veteran swimmers who eagerly wait for a chance to swim in the river.
“I’ve been living in Boston for about 20 years, and I’ve never been in the water in the Charles. It’s my big first time,” said Carlos Villamil, 50, who was taking a rest on the dock after launching into the water at noon with the first group.
Last year, organizers canceled the event due to elevated bacteria levels in the water, which can happen when the city’s antiquated sewage system overflows after heavy rainfall. Though the river used to be a popular swimming destination, swimming was prohibited in the 1950s following centuries of pollution.
City Splash is a way to bring awareness to river cleanup efforts and remind the public that swimming in the city could become a regular activity, said Laura Jasinski, executive director of the Charles River Conservancy, which hosts the event in partnership with the state Department of Conservation and and Recreation as well as other organizations.
“It’s such a fun, joyful way to understand that we should be able to do this all the time,” Jasinski said.