Representatives of Arc Ecology, Department of the Environment, Department of Public Works, and the Bayview community celebrate sign installation.January 14, 2004: Arc Ecology installed the first of a series of signs for an interpretive walking toxic tour of the Hunters Point Shipyard as seen from surrounding neighborhoods. The signs will summarize the polluted sites on the Navy base like scenic overlook signs identify the natural features in a landscape. This first sign, located on Earl Street on Hunters Point Hill, overlooks Yosemite Slough and the Hunters Point Shipyard Parcel E landfill. The tour is part of the Community Window on the Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup, a project of Arc Ecology funded by the San Francisco Department of the Environment. The San Francisco Department of Public Works assisted with the installation.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, so Arc Ecology and the San Francisco Department of the Environment are collaborating to bring a series of interpretive signs to the City and specifically the Bayview Hunters Point Community outlining the toxic hazards present at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
For years environmentalists have been doing “toxic tours” of contaminated areas and corporate headquarters around the United States. In January 2004, with the assistance of the San Francisco Department of Public Works, the project mounted the first of a series of self-guiding, park-like interpretive signs at key overlooks in Bayview Hunters Point. The signs summarize the polluted sites on the Navy base like scenic overlook signs identify the natural features in a landscape.
“This is a truly unique project. This is the first time local government and environmentalists are cooperating to provide this type of graphic educational information to the general public about the pollution hazards in their neighborhoods.” said Lea Loizos, Staff Scientist for Arc Ecology.
“A key component of Environmental Justice is ready access to critical information. By placing these signs where everyone can see them, we empower residents to make choices about their environment and perhaps encourage them to take action.” said Jared Blumenfeld, Executive Director of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment.
Encased in a four foot by two foot green metal box with a window is a picture of the overlook with toxic hazards identified, an educational outline of the problem, and a bulletin board for upcoming community meetings and events.
Three additional signs are planed to be placed this year: one at the entrance of the former shipyard, one at Heron’s Head Park looking south toward the Shipyard, and one at Candlestick Point Recreational Area looking north toward the Shipyard. More signs are planned as the property transfers from the Navy to the City. As cleanup proceeds, the signs will be changed to reflect the transition from a Superfund site to a healthy environment.
Take the tour online!
