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Created in 1965, the Alviso Marina was once the refuge of myriad boats. Dredging was required to keep the waterway open for increasingly larger vessels. When dredging became unfeasable in the late 1970's, the silt, reeds, and grass closed in, staking claim to their natural habitat. It is now a marina of ghosts and grass.

Alviso Marina Park is described succinctly by the San Francisco "travel/entertainment" web site sanfrancisco.sidewalk thusly:

"Navigate through the industrial back streets of Alviso until you reach a parking lot surrounded by thick marshland grass. This barren and abandoned boat -launching area is a prime spot to film a mafia flick."

"...The high grass and wet marshland keep you from walking around much, but you can stroll or bike along the Alviso Slough Trail or watch railroad trains pass only 30 feet away. On the other side of the trail, you'll find a small, sandy beach where visitors are permitted to fish. Rarely are there many visitors."

The courageous can launch a boat when the tide is high - very high. However, people generally do not bring boats here. The sparse park offers a few lonely picnic tables. The restroom is at the parking lot."

"...Turn right on Hope Street. Follow Hope Street into the parking lot.

This description is reminiscent of Lewis Carrol's The Walruss and the Carpenter, "No birds were flying overhead, there were no birds to fly."

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