Bayfront

A bayfront is the waterfront zone running along a bay, typically in or near an urban area. It encompasses land along the shoreline and often extends from an estuary inward. Bayfronts may include public promenades, parks, mixed-use developments, and harbor facilities. The term is used in planning and real estate to describe districts that face a bay and are prominent for recreation, housing, business, and tourism.

Common features include promenades or boardwalks, marinas, bathhouses, museums, theaters, hotels, restaurants, office and residential towers, as well as transportation hubs such as tram or bus lines and ferries. Environmental and infrastructure components may include flood defenses, wetlands, parking, and stormwater management.

Development often reflects shifts from industrial port uses to mixed-use, waterfront living and leisure. Planning priorities include public access, resilient design against flooding and storms, habitat protection, and heritage preservation. Challenges may include balancing private development with public space, rising land values, and environmental remediation.

Examples: The Embarcadero waterfront in San Francisco is a renowned bayfront promenade; Baltimore's Inner Harbor is another noted bayfront district with cultural institutions and retail. Bayfronts exist in many coastal cities around the world, each with unique histories and design approaches.