MIAMI – Boston’s iconic Cupid Splash is coming to Miami.
For the past 15 years, in the dead of winter, hundreds of Bay State residents have jumped into the bone-chilling sea off the beaches of South Boston, raising thousands of dollars to help restore Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor.
“Twenty-five years ago, Boston Harbor was a disgrace. Our waste washed up on the beach and shore from Cape Cod to Cape Ann,” said Bruce Berman, Miami Cupid Splash organizer.
That was then. This is now.
It’s amazing what the power of community can do to make miracles happen.
“The last year that we did the full splash we raised $50,000 in pledges and another $100,000 in sponsorship and philanthropic support.”
Now, he’s hoping to bring that magic to Miami, raising much-needed funds to help save Biscayne Bay.
“The magnitude of the challenges that we face is pretty large. Figure, billions — 5 billion, maybe a 20-year investment — but you’ve got to start somewhere, and we can all do our part,” Berman said.
Merle Liivand, South Beach mermaid and world champion swimmer, called the event “a part of our DNA” and urged Miamians to unite.
“This is a time for Miami people to come together and to be real superheroes,” Liivand said.
It will take a super effort to save the bay, addressing decades of neglect, with nutrient pollution flowing freely into the watershed unchecked for years—killing acres of seagrass, spurring algae growth, and igniting the unprecedented fish kill of the summer of 2020, followed by another in the fall of 2022.
Piero Gardinali, of Florida International University’s Institute of Environment, emphasized the importance of restoring the bay.
“The bay is not dead but we need to pay attention to it. Everybody needs to do something,” said Gardinali.
Addressing pollution sources, upgrading outdated infrastructure, and stormwater systems are costly and heavy lifts that will take time. However, every Miami-Dade resident can contribute to lightening the load. Valentine’s Day weekend is your call to action.
“So everyone needs to unite around our blue heart, and Cupid Splash is a great way to have fun, educate the community, and make sure that we’re all investing together for our bay,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
It’s happening Sunday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at Collins Park Beach. You can register alone or join a team and ask your friends and family to sponsor you. All money raised will go to the Biscayne Bay Recovery Fund, managed by the Miami Foundation.
Lorena Parra, Miami-Dade County Chief Bay & Water Resources Officer, explained the broader impact of the event.
“We’re going to be able to support all of the nonprofits that do conservation and education work throughout the year,” Parra said.
Many have already taken the pledge to plunge.
Dave Doebler, co-founder and president of VolunteerCleanup.org, confirmed his commitment.
“Yeah, I’m jumping in the water. It’s gonna be like 68 degrees. I’m scared of what’s gonna happen,” Doebler said.
While most South Floridians wouldn’t dare dip a toe in water below 80 degrees, the average February water temperature in Miami is a frigid 70 degrees. However, Boston Harbor’s event was born in 35-degree water, so this plunge is relatively mild by comparison.
“It’s silly. I will tell you that you’ll probably be cold for a few minutes,” Berman said. “But the warm feeling you’ll get from doing something that’s good for your community will last a really long time.”
Doebler emphasized the event’s community-driven nature.
“This really shows that the community cares, and we’re trying to figure out what we need to do in order to get the kind of investments into the things that we need, like clean air and clean water and a clean Biscayne Bay, which drives our economy,” Doebler added.
Parra also stressed the importance of continued action.
“It’s on all of us to give them the solutions, the actions, the ways that they can support us. And taking the plunge on February 16 is just one way that they can help us restore the bay,” she said.
“Our bay needs our love,” Levine Cava said.
Biscayne Bay is an economic engine, representing $64 billion to the local economy.
Whether you’re a fish lover or not, it’s in all our best interest to restore the watershed. Our lifestyle and health depend on a healthy Biscayne Bay.
Click here for more information on how you can take the plunge and help save Biscayne Bay!