Newtown Creek Nature Walk
QRP provided landscape architectural services for the Newtown Creek Water Treatment Plant for over a decade. In addition to working on a master plan, the firm designed the award-winning Newtown Creek Nature Walk in collaboration with the environmental sculptor George Trakas.
The Nature Walk was completed as a phased project, with the first section consisting of a street-end entrance garden that brings visitors across the treatment plant and opens onto a broad expanse of stone steps that provides a seating and gathering area overlooking the water. Water quality at Newtown Creek has significantly improved in recent years, and these steps provide opportunities for fishing and kayaking, as well as a place to observe the many waterfowl species of the creek and views to the city skyline beyond.
The Nature Walk continues as a linear path at the creek edge, meandering between native plantings and rocks. The edge treatment along the creek includes bulkheaded areas for protection of the treatment plant, but small stepped-down areas along the bulkhead allow for closer contact with the water and provide places to tie up small boats.
All the hard and soft landscape elements were designed to withstand and enhance the characteristics of the site, using natural and marine related materials, such as wood, stone and unpainted metal, and native plant materials adapted to the waterfront environment and tolerant of flooding. Sub-surface drainage systems allow drainage of floodwaters back to the creek, and provide on-site infiltration of all stormwater.
The second phase consists of an over-water connector that extends the Nature Walk over Whale Creek Canal, an arm of the Newtown Creek, through a series of pile supported decks and a new bridge. The vessel-shaped decks were designed by George Trakas to reference the boats that once used the creek.
This leads to the third phase of the project, a de-mapped portion of Kingsland Avenue where the park space extends the themes and materials of the linear walk, including irregular stone paving, custom stone seating and rugged timber elements, into a more generous open space that includes a variety of sitting spaces, and two shade structures designed by George Trakas.
The work required environmental mitigation and complex permitting and coordination with multiple agencies including NYC City Planning, NYS DEC, US Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, NYC SBS, PDC, as well as overseeing the ULURP action required for street demapping.
We also interfaced with local community groups who have now enthusiastically adopted the Nature Walk. The project made a significant impact to the Greenpoint community, providing new green spaces and recreational amenities where none previously existed and is a source of neighborhood pride. Many birds and butterflies make their home here today, thanks to the improved water quality and native habitat, and bird watchers and nature enthusiasts report sightings of numerous species.
The project has won several awards, including the two NYC Design Commission Awards.
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Client
NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Role
Prime Consultant
Team
MRCE
Hazen & Sawyer
George Trakas, Artist
Photography Credit: Barrett Doherty
