NEWTOWN CREEK...Newtown Creek watershed sufficient to capture full site stormwater runoff • Provide for oysters and mussels throughout the Creek ... • Potential walkway behind

NEWTOWN CREEKVision Plan 2017

Made possible by the generosity of

OUR APPROACH

Born out of Superfund Community Advisory Group Vision Principles

Riverkeeper-led initiative, with Newtown Creek Alliance

CAGRK 4Rs

Framed by 4Rs> Remediation > Restoration > Recreation > Resiliency

CAG VISION PRINCIPLES1. Remove All Contaminated Sediment

2. Address CSOs and Stormwater Drainage

3. Make Safe for Fish Consumption

4. Improve Water Quality to Swimmable Levels

5. Protect and Promote Marine Ecosystem

6. Shoreline Restoration in Tributaries

7. Allow for Navigation Channels

8. Preserve Industrial Core

9. Continued Mixed Use of Waterway

10. Robust Community Participation

11. Increased Public Access for Education + Recreation

12. Climate Change

OUR PARTNERS

P+W

NCA

TheCommunity

CAG

New York City

Riverkeeper

THE TIMELINE

Community Input

Design Testing

Final Report

Dec 2017May 2017 Aug 2017

Community Input

VISIONING PROCESS

RemediationRestoration Recreation Resiliency

Parks and Public SpaceStreets and TransportationRecreational BoatingEcology and EcosystemsShorelinesStormwater and CSOsWater QualityIndustry & Working WaterfrontPolicy & Governance

4 RsPLANNING LENS

NEWTOWN CREEKVision Plan 2017

COMMUNITY FEEDBACKParks and Public Space • More public open space and better signage • Utilize space under and adjacent to bridges • Provide waterfront access behind buildings, at publicly owned waterfront sites and longitudinally along the Creek

Surrounding Street Redesign • Improved bike lanes and bike parking at water access points and street-ends • Extend public access to the water • Redesign street-ends into open spaces

Recreational Boating • More recreational boating facilities and access to water • Jointly develop protocols for commercial and recreational traffic

Ecology and Ecosystems• Increase biodiversity by increasing and enhancing ecosystem diversity • Require green infrastructure at any and all construction or redevelopment sites in Newtown Creek watershed sufficient to capture full site stormwater runoff • Provide for oysters and mussels throughout the Creek

Shorelines• Bike/Ped easement along the Creek • Shoreline as educational tool • Increased living shoreline strategies • Water taxi and ferry access

Industry• Water-dependent business should have priority along the waterfront • Strengthen and evolve working class jobs, in conjunction with sustainability and a remediated/restored Creek

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

CSO, Stormwater and Water Quality• Volume reduction through green infrastructure and low impact design • Deploy flood control and management measures where appropriate • Achieve swimmable water conditions - year round • Capture and reduce stormwater volume, reduce number of CSO discharge events, and control nonpoint and separate stormwater pollution sources • Utilize green infrastructure and passive rainwater capture and infiltration wherever possible, including and especially on private property

Policy• More partnerships and public events to raise awareness • More outreach to schools and academic partners• Break down regulatory and agency silos• Increased pollution monitoring and enforcement

COMMUNITY FEEDBACKCOMMUNITY FEEDBACK

Creekwide• Comprehensive planning and incentives to address sea level rise• Develop mechanisms for legally engaging property owners in improving resiliency, restoration and/or public access along unused shorelines • Develop approaches for remediating failing bulkheads, and better ecological guidelines for rebuilding bulkheads • Open industrial uses, better ways to store and move materials • Urban Heat Island Effect, explore ways to reduce (more greenery)• Green Infrastructure for industrial and residential areas (MS4 + CSO) • Create soft edges where feasible • No Wake Zone • Improved pedestrian/bike access between access points • Improve education and public art opportunities • Develop full-cycle waste and energy stream plan

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Mouth of CreekStorm Surge Barrier - what are the impacts, concerns, desired effects?

• Marina / legal docks at sailboat area • Enforced No Wake Zone • Park under Queens side of Pulaski • Vernon Blvd Street End redesign, with greenspace and boat launch • Public use of open space under Pulaski with connection to North Brooklyn Community Boathouse • GMDC bulkhead redesign • Stormwater capture and GI opportunities: Vernon Blvd, 54th Ave and capture from Pulaski bridge.

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Whale Creek ReachMarine Transfer Station and DSNY property, possible future uses?

Better materials storage and docking operations for Sims and Allocco?

• Park or public space on DEP property at Greenpoint Ave and Kingsland Ave • Expand Kingsland Wildflowers greenroof • Shoreline and marsh improvements at North Henry Street/ No Name inlet, with connection to Nature Walk • Pedestrian and cycling connectors/access (Kingsland Ave to McGolrick Park), including redesign of Kingsland Ave near Nature Walk • Possible marina on Queen’s shoreline (MTA property) • Restoration opportunity at ConEd lot near Pulaski Bridge

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Dutch KillsShould Dutch Kills be de-listed as a navigable waterbody for increased marsh restoration and bridge re-designs?

Montauk Rail, should it be reactivated as a passenger line?

• Expand Montauk Cutoff walkway to connect to Borden Ave (via walkway over water or surrounding property) or to Greenpoint Ave (potential for elevated berm) • FedEx shoreline, potential for controlled public access and path (Bernie’s walk) • 29th Street/park (with or without street closure) • Borden Ave Bridge house - potential for new uses • Sunnyside Commons (large park space near the head of DK) • Value for education and boating access with nearby schools and residential communities • Removal of abandoned barges at head of Dutch Kills • Replace Borden Ave bridge, increase flow • Storm barrier at mouth; feasible, useful?

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Mile 2What are priorities for street-end redesign (Apollo, Meeker,

Under K-Bridge)?

• Blissville Seep (Queens) and Meeker Ave Plumes (BK) need more attention and remediation plans in place • Potential bike path on Queens side, maybe along the Calvary cemetery sidewalk • Water/Boat launch access under K-Bridge (BK) • Shoreline restoration under K-Bridge (Queens) - a way to create public access? • Shoreline restoration opportunities: Green Asphalt, and Maspeth Concrete • Montauk passenger rail line, possible stop in this area? • Exxon remediation site, future plans beyond remediation? • Living Bulkheads to Increase habitat function (Exxon, Waste Management, Empire Merchants)

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Turning BasinNational Grid site, what are community ideas near and long term?

• Potential walkway behind Restaurant Depot and Phelps Dodge site • Redesign of Plank Road area and shoreline restoration running to Maspeth Creek • Maspeth Ave (BK) with potential for street end improvement • Full remediation of National Grid site. Possible redesign of bulkhead (Superfund dependent)• Round the National Grid corner to improve movement of water • Recreate Mussel Island

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

Maspeth CreekStrong desire for salt marsh; ways to incorporate public access?

• Path along north shore, possible pedestrian bridge over Maspeth Creek • Potential access on 49th street • CSO storage tunnel or tank to fix CSO • Osprey platforms, shore bird habitat, cormorant hang out spot (if boom is removed long term)• Soften corner at the mouth (southside) • Examining ways to protect north shore sites for flooding/sea level rise

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

East BranchRe-imagine aeration site and long term goals, needs?

De-list as navigable waterway (for marsh restoration and improved bridge design)?

• Wetland restoration past bridge (on both sides) • Bridge is likely to be replaced, what is ideal design long term? • Shoreline restoration along trucking depot (YRC Freight) • Possible access near Western Beef inlet

IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

IMPROVEMENT IDEASEnglish KillsBetter way to improve circulation? Rounding the corners?

Public Access – where do we want it and how do we get it?

• Possible access/path from Johnson Ave to Morgan Ave. Could utilize MTA parking lot and MTA rail bridge • Metropolitan Ave get down to the Creek (NW corner) • Commercial public access. Ways to increase/improve private shoreline access, including venues, restaurants, etc• CSO storage tank or tunnel is necessary to fix NCB-015 • Aeration: a better long term approach. System that doesn't disrupt surface waters/air and that is utilized as needed.• Salt marsh in Waste Management inlet • Salt marsh in head of tributary; de-list navigability here? • Examine groundwater flow and historic streams, ways to improve freshwater input • Special incentive for GI for new commercial projects nearby

BROOKLYN

MANHATTAN

QUEENS

GREENPOINT

WILLIAMSBURG

EAST WILLIAMSBURG

MASPETH

HUNTERS POINT

SUNNYSIDE

LIE

BQE

So, what’s your vision for Newtown Creek?

let us [email protected]

or continue the conversation www.riverkeeper.org/newtowncreek