A Seat on the Ferry Can Be a Step Toward Belonging

For more than a decade, Boston Harbor Now has been committed to breaking down barriers so that Boston’s waterfront, Harbor, and Islands are places where everyone feels welcome. From our earliest programs to today’s large-scale initiatives, our work has been grounded in a belief that access to these blue and green spaces is a right, not a privilege.

We are grateful to Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their investment in water-based transit. Their recent grants to expand ferry and water transportation will connect even more residents to the harbor and its public treasures. Boston Harbor Now is proud to have received $200,000 from this funding to continue our much-celebrated Community Cruises program and expand piloting access to cultural sites and events.

This summer, we hosted seven Community Cruises for residents from East Boston, South Boston, and Roxbury, as well as families served by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. We partnered with organizations representing Latino, LGBTQIA+, and Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian (AAPINH) communities, groups historically underrepresented on Boston Harbor and the waterfront.

Since 2013, our Community Cruises have given tens of thousands of residents the chance to experience their city from a whole new perspective, share moments of joy, and strengthen their connection to one another and to Boston’s maritime heritage and coastal identity. These trips are more than scenic rides – they are invitations to belong.

Thanks to our many partners, generous supporters, and passionate community leaders, we will continue expanding these opportunities so that everyone can experience the beauty, history, and collective benefits of the Boston waterfront and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. As we look ahead, our commitment to access and equity will remain at the heart of our mission, shaping a harbor that truly belongs to all.

Read the official Boston Harbor Water Transportation Grant press release here:

https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-awards-over-23-million-to-expand-waterfront-ferry-and-water-transportation-on-boston-harbor