This is a story of a happy ending. But it didn't start that way. The place? The Cuyahoga River Valley, between the Ohio cities of Cleveland and Akron. The problem? Pollution, and lots of it!
After decades of companies dumping industrial waste products, the Cuyahoga River Valley became so contaminated that nothing could live there. Wildlife died and people got sick. The river was so polluted with toxic waste that it even caught fire! What could be done? The United States government stepped in, enforcing a full-scale cleanup that included the removal of nearly 400,000 tons of tainted soil. And then it was time to give the land a fresh start. New soil was brought in, and seeds were planted.
After 25 years, the land was healed. Now the valley where once nothing could live is a national park, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Not only does the park provide a vibrant home to thriving, diverse wildlife, it also serves as an example of how once-devastated environments can change, heal, and become places of beauty for all.
