Haifa Bay Dunes Park

When dirt is swept under the carpet, it may be hidden from view, but it remains. Historically, this reflects the mindset regarding pollutants that seep into the soil and stay buried. Increasing industrialization in recent centuries has led to habitat destruction and soil contamination globally. With high population density, there is a growing need to rehabilitate contaminated areas for the benefit of both people and nature, particularly those located in ecologically significant zones. However, a lack of awareness, high restoration costs, insufficient monitoring, and failure to take responsibility have rendered many abandoned industrial and polluted sites inaccessible to the public. In Israel, there are approximately 10,000 contaminated sites, with a quarter of the most polluted areas concentrated in the Haifa-Acre Bay due to extensive industrial activity since the British Mandate period. One of the most polluted sites is the Prutarom Factory in Acre, which contaminated the soil for many years before its closure in 2005. 

This project proposes to transform the abandoned factory compound near the beach into an ecological park named the “Haifa Bay Dunes Park.” The park will highlight the region’s industrial history while restoring and conserving natural ecosystems and integrating sustainable, interactive human use. The restoration initiative will provide a comprehensive nature-based solution, utilizing natural processes to rejuvenate the environment by restoring wetlands and planting vegetation that specializes in pollutant removal. 

Through this restoration, both the wetland habitat and dunes will be revitalized, helping to revive nearly extinct ecosystems. This novel ecological park will enhance native biodiversity and ecosystem services, serving recreational and educational purposes for the public, who will be able to once again enjoy the beaches, dunes, and natural beauty of the bay.