Jack Block Park

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The observation tower at Jack Block Park offers views of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, and the Port of Seattle.
The observation tower at Jack Block Park offers views of Elliott Bay, downtown Seattle, and the Port of Seattle.

Jack Block Park is a 15-acre (6.1 ha) park in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.[1] Situated on the northwest corner of the Port of Seattle's Terminal 5, the park offers public beach access, a children's play area, and a 45-foot (14 m) observation tower.

History

The site of the park was previously occupied by a wood treatment plant and a shipbuilding facility,[2] and the area was contaminated with creosote and designated a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1994.[3][4] Originally named Terminal 5 Park,[5] the park opened in 1998 as part of the Port of Seattle's redevelopment of Terminal 5 and was dedicated and named after former Port Commissioner Jack Block in 2001.[2][6]

In 2007 a local community group proposed a plan to move the West Seattle terminal of the King County Water Taxi from Seacrest Park to Jack Block Park,[7] but as of 2012 the plan has not been implemented.

After an environmental cleanup effort that included the removal of contaminated mud and wood pilings as well as the capping of 58 acres (23 ha) of sediment, the park's beach opened to the public in 2011.[8]

Activities

The park features a walking path along the shoreline, which passes by a play area and a walkable pier before terminating at the park's observation tower.[5] The tower overlooks Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle, and also offers a view of port operations at Terminal 5 and Vigor Shipyards. Interpretive plaques at the tower provide a summary of activities at the Port of Seattle and an overview of maritime shipping technology.

References

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