Wapato Lake
I confess, I had never been to Wapato Lake before yesterday afternoon. With the mall sewage issue, the rampant algae, and the ensuing water treatment debacle, followed by attempts to pull an entire car out of the lake, it just didn't sound too inviting. I was very wrong.
I don't know how it used to look, but this is the lake yesterday, post restorative treatments:
Wapato Lake Park is a gorgeous WPA-era spot. There's a large playground with a big picnic area, and a smooth paved path around the lake that only takes about 10 minutes to complete, with children.
These days, even the kids know the story of the lake. They warn each other to keep their feet and hands out of the "poison" water and excitedly tell each other about the "mall poop." Perfectly ripe blackberries went untouched, even as hordes of Tacoma families took in the beautiful scenery.
But it's impossible not to look at Wapato Lake and feel a little bit hopeful. A lake that might have given me that sick-in-the-stomach Never Never Land feeling a few years ago is now a sparkling blue gem. Looking at the lake today, it doesn't seem inconceivable that one day people might even swim in it again.
Wapato Lake
S 68th and Sheridan
Tacoma
Comments
Authored by: Anonymous on
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, September 08 2008 @ 01:47 PM PDT
Nice pictures.
Did you take any of the fish you want to post?
:)
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Beautiful Afternoon at Wapato Lake
Authored by: Jenyum on Monday, September 08 2008 @ 02:28 PM PDT
No, no sign of the fish anymore. But I did almost post one of people *fishing* in the lake. I am 99.9% sure they were just teaching the kids how to cast off. But it would have been funny to see the reaction.
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Beautiful Afternoon at Wapato Lake
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, September 08 2008 @ 03:26 PM PDT
We just moved into a house a few blocks away from here, so I've been bringing my 2 year old to the park pretty frequently. It makes me really sad too, he loves to swim and this would be a beautiful lake for swimming and playing, minus the whole poison aspect.
-A
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Beautiful Afternoon at Wapato Lake
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, September 08 2008 @ 09:59 PM PDT
Is there a reason why the blackberries went untouched?
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Beautiful Afternoon at Wapato Lake
Authored by: Jenyum on Tuesday, September 09 2008 @ 10:04 PM PDT
I think people were worried about the pollution/chemical issue since they are right by the water. I don't know if it would necessarily effect the blackberries, but I'm not an expert.
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