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In the shadows of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, residents of Greenpoint will soon be able to go on a nature walk. The Department of Environmental Protection, which operates the sewage plant, is officially opening the Newtown Creek Nature Walk this Saturday. The 800-foot nature walk along Newtown Creek, which took 9-years and $3.2 million to complete, is landscaped and features access points to the polluted creek.
The Times even observed a school of fish at one point during a walk through of the trail. Perfect, as the walkway features seven fishing piers on a tributary of Newtown Creek. We hope that anyone that does go fishing in the new park keeps in mind this quote from Emily Lloyd, the city's environmental commissioner, "There’s the oil. There’s a lot of bacteria in the water." That warning goes out to people using the nature trail as a launching point for kayaks and canoes too.
While we commend the DEP and Newtown Creek for adding a little bit of nature to Greenpoint and listening to community requests for access to Newtown Creek, spending a lazy afternoon fishing next to a wastewater treatment plant (the largest in the city, in fact) seems like a less than ideal. We suppose one could get used to the smell of sewage if you're out there long enough.
The opening celebration festivities are this Saturday from 11AM - 4PM with light refreshments and activities for children.
Photo of members of the LIC Community Boathouse on Newtown Creek (is that the trail in the background?) by elderta_2001 on flickr
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That sewage plant smells bad. Really, really, bad.
Yes, it is the trail! The steps go right down the to water on the Creek front. Up the Creek, you can hear and see the constant loading of plastics heading toward China for recycling and down the Creek, the Pulaski Skyway.
I've been kayaking a number of times on the Creek. While at least one person said that they would hop into the Creek, looking at it up close... I don't advise it. There is a point further toward the BQE where the water actually bubbles up from the oil trapped under the riverbed.
thanks for confirming my suspicions, elderta. that creek is creepy. maybe one day, it will be clean. prob not in my lifetime though.
The 800-foot nature walk along Newtown Creek, which took 9-years and $3.2 million to complete
Jesus. Christ. Almighty.
Only in New York.
Yes, it is a dingy, but, you'd be surprised at the wildlife further upstream. It gets a bit better after the BQE. You should come kayaking with us next summer, when the LIC Boathouse does our Friday Night Chill Paddles. We usually go to Newtown Creek and back from LIC. Come and see for yourself... and that goes for all of you!
Only in New York would people agree to kayak in such a polluted creek next to a sewage treatment plant. Seriously, take a step back for a minute and tell me this isn't fucked up. Really. I'm a new yorker. I live in greenpoint. this is fucked up. Plain and simple. It's fucked the hell up.
Do we live in a parody universe or something? Come on, now.
Ah, the great outdoors! Someone in Montana is choking right about now.
Oh, and one more thing. I once lived in the loft building right where the creek meets the river. We used to feed the ducks from our window. And sometimes even a swan or two. I also used to sit along the creek whenever I could stand the smell or the air was blowing away from me. Anyway, one time I saw a piece of poop float by right next to a tampon.
But, we adapt, us New Yorkers. You need a taste of the outdoors, you deal with these things. We're really good at using our imagination and looking the other way. A forgiving bunch, if you will.
Mihow, people live on that creek in boathouses, too. I'll take a step back and tell you that only when people do start kayaking in it and using it as something more than a dump is when things get done. So, from my point of view, start using it... it's the only way the powers that be will start doing something about the problem.
Nine years and $3.2 million to complete 900 feet of a walking path next to some sludge?!?!
I can just crap on your head for $20 and tell you to walk away...
Elderta, I wasn't talking directly to you although it did appear that way. My apologies.
I guess I'm just not interested in sitting along a polluted creek any longer even if it is to make a point. More power to you. This city amazes me. And what we're willing to put up with amazes me even more. This particular story might just win the WTF award for me.
I can't imagine why they would build a park along the biggest oil spill in American history or why folks would want to hang out there. I live blocks and blocks from that plant and I get its smell almost daily.
Just saying, if you look at this totally objectively it's really quite funny (that is if it weren't so damn sad).
If the city wants to bring awareness to the creek, they should open it as an enviornmental learning center, where they give tours explaining the history of the creek, the pollution, and it's effects. Most people I speak to have no idea about the oil spill, and why would they? It's hardly front page news for anyone not living near the stink.
By encouraging people to enjoy catch and release fishing in the creek (where their hands will inevitably touch some rather toxic sludge by handling fish) the city is not sending the right message. Their message seems to be, hang out, the water's fine.
I am totally disgusted by the whole situation. I mean, there's not even a fully functioning park near the East River, where 3.2 million would have gone a long way to make a nice park that people could enjoy. This just seems like a cruel sick joke.
Well, we only go up the crik once a week in the summer, but I do sometimes contemplate butt cancer.
haha.
Good go paddle around in my shit!