Newtown Creek: Don’t judge a nature walk by its smell
Tucked away in the corner of Provost Street and Paidge Avenue in Greenpoint, between two places people try to avoid — a sewage treatment plant and a Time Warner Cable office — is the Newtown Creek Nature Walk.
One would assume a nature walk would be similar to a stroll in a park. But at Newtown Creek, there is no grassy lawn, hiking trail and very little wildlife. Instead of smelling fresh air and grass, visitors are greeted with a stench from the nearby waste treatment plant. On a windy day, the smell is so strong it becomes difficult to breathe.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, which built and operates the space, warns visitors to avoid contact with the water since it may be contaminated with chemicals and to not eat any fish, crabs or shellfish caught in the creek.