An 1880 history of the Washington Avenue Green/Pier 53 described fields of reeds and an abundance of teal, plover, snipe, and woodcocks. Shortly afterward, the site became an active immigration port, and later a busy mercantile port. Shoreline was filled in, trees cut down, docks added, railroad tracks laid down and later abandoned.

In 1965 a massive fire destroyed Pier 53 and the surrounding site. The shoreline and what was left of Pier 53 fell into ruin.

In 2012 when the area was first being considered as part of the Central Delaware Waterfront Corporation Plan, the habitat was studied for conversion into a passve public park.

Among discoveries were some surprises: there were two species of mussel that had been pronounced extinct this far south on the Delaware, and two species of snakes. Non-native Paulownia trees dot the shoreline. The original Pier 53 was preserved and held together by non-native mulberry trees. A study was made of the shore site. Native flowers such as the New England aster were identified and re-introduced, as were grasses such as the little bluestem and Joe-pye weed.

More than 20 species of fish live between Pier 53 and Pier 78 to the south. Abandoned piers along the river serve as nursery areas for
migratory fish, especially river herring such as the American shad, the alewife, and the blueback herring. An endangered species, the red-bellied turtle, has been found among the old pilings.

Into this new wilderness arrived new life. Fish started appearing that hadn't been seen in decades. Rodents appeared: squirrels, and beavers, and even a groundhog. Northern map turtles were found hanging out on the ruined pilings. Migrating birds showed up: hawks and eagles and egrets. And bees.

The Bees. Bees make their homes in non-urban areas as well as in formerly urban and abandoned areas. Pier 53 fits that category. Where did the bees originally come from, and how have they evolved to fit into a changed habitat? Matthew Donahue, a scientist at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut wanted to find out.