Local Calls "Bullshit" On Newtown Creek's Recreation Ban

Photo via elderta 2001's flickr

With Newtown Creek officially a Superfund site now, the Department of Environmental Protection has closed off the waterway to boats, kayaks, and the like. But the people have spoken, and they want their polluted waters to remain open for recreation! According to the Brooklyn Paper, the EPA claims its a "short-term ban" that will remain in place until the state can analyze the water quality. A DEP official said the decision was made out of “an abundance of caution” with regards to public health.

Head of the Newtown Creek Alliance, Kathleen Schmid, told the paper, “No kayaker has been hurt or gotten sick after years of use of the public waterways. The city, as well as the kayakers, have known the state of Newtown Creek’s waters for years and the city felt no compunction to limit access based on information that they have themselves collected.”

The two sides will meet in December to discuss the new policy—a meeting one Community Board member promised would be "lively." His stance on the new rules? "This is bullshit." Well, there's always the Gowanus, which is also Superfunded but still allows recreation. Pretty sure no one's contracted gonohorrea from it, yet.

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By Jen Carlson in News on November 15, 2010 2:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Nicholasian

The waterway is not closed to any watercraft. The DEP has placed signs prohibiting the launching of watercraft from the nature walk and from the park at the end of Manhattan Ave. However, boaters are still welcome to launch from private locations or enter from the East river.

rgk

fact check: the EPA did not institute any ban. the City DEP did. big big big difference.....

woodendesigner

Let them use the creek at their own risk. I say let natural selection weed out the morons.

Elderta

Aren't you clever and original.

Kojak

Ok so when they do Kayak &/or swim in Newtown Creek, then are suddenly diagnosed with cancer of the anus, then they can sue the DEP for not protecting them!

Idiots. Listen to the DEP. They might actually know what they're doing.

Elderta

Being that that is my photograph that Gothamist used for this, I want to assure you that I check for cancer of the anus on regular basis, thank you very much.

Kojak

So you guys kayak in that???? I'm surprised a turd monster didn't rise from the creek & ate you.

Elderta

Ha, we did it a lot about two years ago, but this summer I only went up there once. I've kayaked all the way to the Kosciusko bridge. There is a part that is really bubbly, I'm sure there are turd monsters, but believe it or not, there's a bird sanctuary somewhere along the way, too. It's pretty near in many respects... seeing the old industrial shoreline in all of its decrepitude. I try not to think about cancer of the anus too much, but believe me, I have made jokes about it here and there.

Elderta

That should be it's "pretty neat" in many respects.

Kojak

Sheesh... well, as long as you're aware of the risks. Just don't fall in or take a quick swig.

Elderta

And actually, I have seen someone swim in it, but you'd have to pay me a lot of money for that. A lot of it. One of the reasons why the State and Government actually started paying more attention to Newtown was because of advocacy by several kayakers groups and other NYC environmental groups. So, we may be crazy, but at least we're good for something.