Barry from East Aurora, N.Y., sends us these photographs—the first for the July entry period, the latter for the August entry period. He writes:
“The first attached photo shows the Buffalo area’s new skyline on Lake Erie. The windmills, which went into operation a few months ago, sit on top of the former slag dump for Bethlehem Steel Company’s Lackawanna plant which closed in the recession of the early 1980s. When the steel plant was operating, the beach where this photo was taken, Woodlawn, was in the midst of the factory district and far too polluted for a bathing beach. After the closure of the steel plant, state parks took over the property and made a great public access facility out of it, which not only has the beach in the photo but also community meeting rooms and an interpretive nature trail. The image really captures the region’s hope for a post-industrial renaissance.”
“The second photo shows a second access public beach in Buffalo known as “Gallagher Beach.” This was an abandoned industrial site until an entrepreneurial local politician, Congressman Brian Higgins (then in the New York State Assembly), succeeded in getting the state Parks department to take it over and make it a proper beach, with a boardwalk and pier. Now it anchors a trail that stretches about five miles to a wetlands area near the head of the Niagara River. Buffalo is taking back its lake!”
Thanks, Barry, for sharing these photos and the inspiring narrative. Those are real restoration success stories, and the reason we’re pushing for comprehensive restoration of our Great Lakes.
It’s not too late to enter the Great Lakes story and photo contest. You, too, can enter for a chance to win prizes.
You can also participate in the effort to restore the Great Lakes. Get involved today in the effort to protect our lakes, our public health, our economy, our drinking water, and our way of life.
Related posts:
- Sunset over Lake Erie
- The Great Lake Erie
- First Trip Into Lake Erie
- All Smiles At Lake Erie
- A Lake Erie Birthday