The story of Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington, is one of the most interesting studies in the transformation of land by humans. The site of Gas Works Park, on the shores of Lake Union just to the north of downtown Seattle, has been transformed from a pristine lakefront to an industrial manufacturing site to an urban recreational retreat. Yet, despite these transformations, the consequences of earlier uses are not too far from the surface and the present.

The site is a former industrial manufacturing area. From the turn of the century to about 50 years ago, coal was converted into methane and other products like tar at the site. The methane gas was used to provide heating and lighting throughout the Seattle area. What remains are the pieces of equipment used in the proces, recreational facilities constructed around that equipment, and toxic waste underlying it all. The site is a state superfund cleanup site!

Imagine my dismay when, despite posted signage to the contrary, I saw people swimming in the lake polluted by benzene, napthalene, and other chemicals; saw mothers allowing their children to crawl around in the dirt; and witnessed people lounging on the ground above the undeground benzene plume!

Despite the warnings, this park is a favorite among Seattle's citizens. Its location on Lake Union, looking across the lake towards downtown Seattle, makes it a breathtaking place for sightseeing and enjoying many lakefront activities. It is the site of huge crowds which gather on New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July for spectacular fireworks shows. As many as 50,000 people may use the park on the Fourth of July alone. With that many people lounging around on blankets on the ground, concerns over the chemicals in the soil are very real. Studies done on the site have concluded that as long as certain rules are followed, everyone should be safe. However, as you can see from the pictures above, not everyone follows all the rules.

An interesting addition to the park is the man-made Kite Hill. Occupying about a third of the park, this massive hill was built from material excavated during the construction of a large building which stands about two miles away in the University of Washington neighborhood. The hill performs the recreational function its name implies as well as providing a high vantage point on the waterfront. More importantly from a health perspective, the material also acts as a barrier between the humans who use the park and the chemicals contained in the soil below which might pose health risks.

An interesting simulation game called Green Skate Park, based loosely on the experience of the Gas Works Park cleanup effort, has been created by officials in the Washington State Health Department. This is an interactive web-based simulation which follows the process of some local teens who try to establish a skateboard park on a former industrial site. As you can see from the adjacent picture, this simulation does not stretch the truth very far. (Click here or on the photo to go to Project Greenskate)