The Inner Harbor is a constructed landscape for maritime use, to welcome boats large and small, from close and far away. To tell the full story, the new islands reintroduce a token of the original shoreline of beach, wetlands and oysters.
The promenade linking the islands complete the existing harbor waterfront and provide pedestrian access to the water. An "S" curve frames the wetland island towards the marina and the beach island towards the navigable channel. The new promenade has an asymmetrical section: it is shaded by a row of trees on one side and steps down to the beach and the wetlands; both softly slope down to horizontal oyster beds under water. In contrast, the new sea wall is a vertical oyster wall: gabions filled with oyster shells will form a base for young oysters to grow.
The new soft edges of the islands will function as a vast water filter and wave damper. Raising the new promenade higher than the existing waterfront elevation can mitigate floods to the marina and adjacent neighborhood. The new islands reintroduce a soft natural world and allow existing maritime Uses on the harbor to remain. The string of islands separate a zone for small crafts with access to the navigable channel. Together, the new wetland and beach islands will support a range of habitats and provide a delightful landscape for all