Nonprofit celebrates record-setting season of free and reduced-cost access while charting the future of belonging and resilience on the Harbor
Boston Harbor Now announced today that its 2025 season will conclude with the largest number of free and reduced-cost access opportunities since the organization was founded in 2016, underscoring a decade of impact.
Through community-driven programming – including community cruises, the Island Pass program, the Library Pass Program, EBT and WIC discounts, Innovation Islands, Free Ferry Day, $5 Ferry Weekend, DCR Summer Nights, and National Park Service educational programs – more than 44,000 people experienced Boston Harbor, the Boston Harbor Islands, and the Boston waterfront this year.
Since its founding, Boston Harbor Now has provided over 330,000 free and reduced-cost access opportunities, helping to close the gap in representation and belonging on the waterfront and creating welcoming experiences for all.
A Decade of Progress on Boston Harbor
Just a generation ago, Boston Harbor was among the most polluted waterways in the country. Community action, advocacy, and investment transformed it into one of the city’s greatest assets: a clean, safe, and resilient harbor that welcomes families, inspires creativity, and fosters connection to nature.
In the ten years since Boston Harbor Now’s founding, the organization has built on that legacy by focusing on accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity. This season marked another milestone: visitation to the Boston Harbor Islands rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, five years after COVID-19 disrupted ferry service and programming.
“Access to the Harbor isn’t just about ferries and tickets. It’s about belonging,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “Over the past decade, we’ve worked to ensure that everyone, no matter their neighborhood, income, or background, feels welcomed on the waterfront and the Islands. This year’s record-setting free and reduced-cost access is a reflection of that commitment, growing interest, and a community that believes Boston Harbor should benefit everyone.”
What Access Really Means
For many, Boston Harbor Now’s work is more than just providing ferry rides. It represents first-time experiences, cultural connection, and moments of belonging that stay with people long after they leave the waterfront and return home.
This year’s Innovation Islands and Innovation Harborwalk grants, supported and organized by Boston Harbor Now in partnership with MA DCR and NPS, show what a decade of impact looks like in action. From an Eid celebration to a BIPOC fashion show, and accessible dance performances from Deaf youth on Spectacle Island, to music and community festivals at Moakley Park and Carson Beach, local organizations used their waterfront as a stage to celebrate culture, share experiences, and create welcoming spaces.
Partners in Access and Equity
Boston Harbor Now’s impact has been made possible through partnerships with public agencies, nonprofits, and neighborhood organizations across Greater Boston. Programs like DCR Summer Nights and Community Cruises are designed not only to provide access, but to create experiences where young people, families, and seniors feel safe, inspired, and connected.
“Boston Harbor belongs to all of us and DCR is proud to work alongside Boston Harbor Now to create welcoming spaces and inclusive programming along the waterfront for people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Nicole LaChapelle, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. “Programs like DCR’s Summer Nights and the Innovation Island grants open doors for more communities to experience, enjoy and connect with the amazing natural resources we have along the Boston waterfront, and we are committed to working together to further expand access to these meaningful opportunities.”
Community organizations have also played a central role in connecting residents to the Harbor. “For the families we work with in South Boston, spending a day on the waterfront is about more than just fun — it’s an opportunity to connect with their city in a meaningful way,” said Kathy Lafferty, Executive Director of the South Boston Neighborhood House. “Through our partnership with Boston Harbor Now, our community has the chance to experience Boston Harbor and the Islands as an extension of their own backyard.”
Looking Ahead: Access, Belonging, and Resilience
As Boston looks to the next decade, the Harbor faces urgent challenges, from climate threats to affordability and representation on the waterfront. Boston Harbor Now sees access as central to meeting those challenges.
“The Harbor is Boston’s front yard and its future,” Abbott said. “As we prepare for rising seas and changing climate, our work will continue to focus on ensuring that Boston Harbor continues to be a place where people come together and experience the mental, emotional, and physical health benefits of being near blue and green space, where equity is at the core, and where our collective resilience is strengthened.”
About Boston Harbor Now
Boston Harbor Now works in partnership with public agencies, communities, and private and nonprofit partners to ensure a vibrant, accessible, and resilient Boston Harbor, waterfront, and islands. From ferries and festivals to climate planning and park access, Boston Harbor Now connects people to the Harbor and works to protect it for future generations.
About the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees nearly half a million acres of land, making up one of the largest and most diverse state park systems in the country. Our work focuses on nurturing the vital connection between people and the environment by protecting, promoting, and enhancing our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr or contact us at mass.parks@mass.gov.
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