Tag: South Park
Desolate Streets
Looking a bit like a ghost town on a Sunday. this section of South Park, Seattle, has mostly light industry.
Rip Rap/Fog
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Along the Duwamish River.
Abandoned Ship
About a year ago* this ship was pushed into this moorage location adjacent to a metal scrapyard on the Duwamish River in South Park ( South Seattle). Since that time the scrapyard has ceased being a viable business and the property has been cleared, few reminders of the scrap business. What will become of this rusty, abandoned ship is a mystery at this point in time. There is an ongoing effort to clean up the river that has been going on since the EPA declared the area a SuperFund site back in the 1970’s, the first such declaration by the EPA.
*I just happened to be at this location to watch the ship being pushed by two small tugs into this spot. I have been shooting this location regularly for the past few years, documenting the major changes that are ongoing.
Scrapyard Closed
There are quite a few metal scrapyards along the Duwamish River here in Seattle. This one, adjacent to the 8th St. Park ( actually a micro-park) closed recently. Now they have the daunting task of cleaning up the grounds.
South Park Bridge Opening
As you can see below, the bridge guard rail still had the shrink-wrap attached. I guess that is proof the bridge is new :-). I’m not sure how the spaceman in the car fits into the scheme of things, but that is part of the charm of South Park.
South Park Bridge Opening
A couple of Sundays ago the new South Park Bridge celebrated its opening. Ceremonies included fire works, parade (photos to follow) and the usual dignitaries. I had been following the project since it started in 2011 and even before. Some of my ‘before’ photos can be seen here, on the King County website. John Stamets, the official photographer for the bridge project, passed away suddenly two weeks before the opening ceremony. Follow his chronicle of the bridge project here. I was fortunate to attend some of the community meetings where John’s Powerpoints were presented. He was great fun to listen to and learn from. He led a rather extraordinary life and I think there is a link to his bio on the page I just linked to. Although the bridge closure and replacement was difficult on the residents and businesses of South Park, I think the people in charge of making it happen and working with the community did an outstanding job. Tim, the chief engineer on site every day, kept his cool and sense of humor throughout all of the setbacks and community frustrations. Ashley DeForest and DeAnna Martin, as Community Relations Managers, were great in dealing with the community and keeping everyone informed. I think the project was lucky to have these individuals working together, along with John Stamets. Tim, the chief engineer, decided to make this his last project and he has or is in the process of retiring. Not many new bridges get built, so I think he felt this was a great way to go out. 
Duwamish Reflection
There has been a layer of fog over Seattle for days. I thought I should post something to remind me of what blue sky looks like. The Duwamish River at high tide is nearly glassy in appearance. The building reflected is a Boeing property, one of few remaining in this section of Seattle known in Boeing-speak as Plant II. Although I am retired from Boeing I have no idea just what takes place in this building. In my day there were some secure sites within Plant II, but I think most of that was in relation to work Boeing did on the stealth aircraft in the 1990’s.
Along the Duwamish River
The new North Span of the 14th St. Bridge (South Park) is in place, vertically. The new bridge is coming along. Other images of working vessels of one type or another. Barges are loaded with just about anything you can imagine, trucks, cars, boats containers, etc and take the cargo north to Juneau, AK.
Duwamish River
Small section of the Duwamish River where nature seems to coexist with marine commerce.
Sunday Morning on/in the Duwamish River
The top photo, in background, you can see work being done on the river bank. They are totally cleaning and refurbishing the bank and I believe the area will be some sort of conservancy area when done.
Daffodils and Ducks ( er…Geese )
Taken at one of my favorite Seattle locations, South Park.
Large Gears
Views of the large gears located at the Portland St. Park on the Duwamish River, in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle.
Watching Each Other
A few weeks ago I had this encounter with a heron on the Duwamish River. They seem to be very wary of people so I was hiding behind some tall grasses up from the river bank.
Dredging out the East Cofferdam
They are still digging out the river bottom on the East cofferdam on the 14th St. Bridge Project in South Park. I wonder if I am the only one photographing the project, from beginning to end?
South Park Past
Part of the history of South Park. It might be time to demo what is left of this house and move forward. There is a view of the Duwamish River from this lot, but most of the land on this side of the street are commercial. Very odd neighborhood. I lived here with my family prior to starting school. I must have been @ 4 years old when we lived in South Park. I remember, in the mid-1950’s, walking to the banks of the river with a stick with a piece of string attached on the end thinking I would go fishing. Somewhere there is even a photo of myself and my long deceased cousin Bob standing on a log on the bank of the river with our homemade fishing poles. It seems unmanageable today to imagine a parent allowing a 4 year old to walk a couple of blocks to play in/near a very polluted river. Those were very different times.
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