Then, 1997The New Year’s flood of January 3, 1997, seen from a helicopter over the industrial part of Sparks. This is not the pit itself. It is the same flood that filled it. We still want a free photo of the pit.
Photo: Patrick A. Glancy, U.S. Geological Survey · Public domain (U.S. government work) · Source · cropped from a report page and resized Today, 2012The Marina is now a lake of about 77 acres with beaches, a pier, and a loop trail. Photo taken at sunset in 2012, with enhanced colors.
Photo: Janusz Sobolewski · CC BY 2.0 · Source · resized For decades the Helms gravel pit supplied rock for roads. In 1987, millions of gallons of oil leaked into the pit from a nearby tank farm.
The city bought the site in 1995. After a cleanup, the New Year’s Day flood of 1997 filled the pit with water in about two days, and it became a lake.
Today it is Sparks Marina Park, with the 77-acre Helms Lake and a loop trail.
Stamp it in person
Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Sparks Marina can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.
Play Sparks
