Newtown Creek Plant Visitor Center is now open
by Urban Omnibus April 26th, 2010 |
Thankfully, Urban Omnibus readers are not the only people in the world who get super excited about things like New York’s first ever visitor center for a public infrastructure project. Our friends at Fresh Kills Park alerted us on Friday to the news the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility would now invite the public to learn, first-hand and on-site, about the inner workings of a plant that treats more than 250 million gallons of wastewater every day. Here’s what the Fresh Kills Park blog had to say:
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection‘s Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is already home of some of the most distinctive architecture in the City, the onion-dome digesters designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, as well as a lovely and serene Nature Walk designed by artist George Trakas. Not bad for a sewage plant along one the country’s most polluted waterways! And now the facility is adding another jewel to its crown: a Visitor Center, also designed by Polshek and featuring an indoor-outdoor fountain designed by artist Vito Acconci.
And now we’ll all have one more excuse to visit our beloved Nature Walk, site of our first meet-up and muse to artist George Trakas. As we get psyched to check out the visitor center — which will be open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4pm — maybe now is a good time to take another look at our video about Trakas’ design for the Nature Walk:
Great video! Well made and interesting. Japan, where I live, could learn a lot from this artist about interacting with the water. Japan’s rivers are often completely blocked off by high walls and railings. Part of this is to prevent flooding, but I think this video provides much food for thought when it comes to the urban landscape, water, parks and our interaction with each. Thanks UO!
During the 1990′s I led walks through the elegant and enormous sewerage treatment plant on the Hudson which extends from 136th to 145th Street. Fascinating conglomeration of pipes and ponds.
We billed these as Shorewalks and also walked through Riverside Park and the topside park.
Atop the vast rectangular facility is a beautiful and much- used recreation area the Riverbank State Park.
We would like to see other industrial facilities used in similar creative manners, and have all facilities open to the public.
Cheers, Cy A Adler
On May 1, 2010 Shorewalkers will lead THE GREAT SAUNTER OF 2010 which will go thorough some 20 parks on Manhattan’s rim including the RIVERBANK STATE PARK
Check out http://www.shorewalkers.org
During the 1990′s I led walks through the elegant and enormous sewerage treatment plant on the Hudson which extends from 136th to 145th Street. Fascinating conglomeration of pipes and ponds.
We billed these as Shorewalks and also walked through Riverside Park and the topside park.
Atop the vast rectangular facility is a beautiful and much- used recreation area the Riverbank State Park.
We would like to see other industrial facilities used in similar creative manners, and have all facilities open to the public.
Cheers, Cy A Adler