Symbolism blended with the Duwamish River's both gritty and pristine backdrops when the Port of Seattle, South Park Neighborhood Association, and other organizations dedicated the opening of what is officially named the "South Park/Eighth Avenue Public Shoreline Access Site."

The 17,000 square foot site contains 345 linear feet of waterfront, three enormous decorative gears, and a cherry tree donated by Kobe, Japan, for 50 years Seattle's sister city. Some of that waterfront consists of a gravel walkway that hugs the river northward past the park.

Muckleshoot fishermen tending their nets, weathered rust-colored barges and Delta Marine luxury yachts dieseling by punctuated speeches by City Council president Richard Conlin, Port Chief Executive Officer Tay Yashitani, South Park Neighborhood Association president Dagmar Cronn and others.

"The new park has its official name but in the hearts of some it reminds us of Tim McNeil and many call it 'Tim McNeil Landing,'" said Cronn, who lives on the river, and described the new access site as "a window to the Duwamish." McNeil died last year at age 59. Some considered him the unofficial mayor of South Park for his activism and hands-on work for revitalizing that neighborhood.

The new park is the Port of Seattle's 20th shoreline access site. A plaque with historic photos explains the site's rich history. From 1914 to 1937 the Eighth Avenue South Bridge connected this site, called Gateway South, with Gateway North, across the Duwamish River in Georgetown. Three large gears have been placed in the ground to evoke memories of the bridge. The newly painted red gears actually operated the Fremont Bridge for over 80 years.

"Gateway North and South are both public-right-a-ways," said George Blumberg after the speeches. He is an engineer with the Port who expects another park across the river to materialize soon. "This was a public transportation corridor so it sort of makes sense. What's clear is there's not much habitat work in this area." He pointed to a row of recently-planted poplar trees visible across the river at Gateway North, and to a map showing habitat work sites further north, including the 17-acre Herring's House Park. He then pointed to the Eighth Avenue Park's vegetation hugging the shore.

"This was covered with rubble and wasn't safe so we planted marsh vegetation, and it is now approved as a habitat site with a softer shoreline," he said.

"We're hoping for more habitat along here," said Cari Simson, outreach and events coordinator for the Duwamish Cleanup Coalition. "Bluefield Holdings and Seattle Parks are trying to package available shoreline pieces to restore river frontage."

Bluefield Holdings was retained by the city as an ecological project developer. They serve as sort of the middleman to facilitate capital from those responsible for polluting to pay for creating new habitat.

"Those in the city that polluted need to provide benefit back to the environment," Simson said. "But it's all up in the air."

The South Park/Eighth Avenue Public Shoreline Access Site is located at 7797 Eighth Avenue South at South Portland Street.

Steve Shay may be reached at steves@robinsonnews.com