Land filled lakeshore swamp

Brittingham Park, Madison
(U.S.A.)

Originally marshland and swamp, the area around Monona Bay was filled in by sand dredges between 1901-1909. The reclaimed land was allocated for building lots and parkland--Brittingham Park. This picture, taken from the approximate location of today's shoreline, shows some of the early housing constructed at what was the old lakeshore, and the newly reclaimed land in the foreground. Interestingly, the buildings have not been allowed to encroach upon the grassland area which forms Brittingham Park. This thus forms an important buffer zone between the urban zone and the lake, while at the same time providing an important recreation area for residents. (A. Rossiter)