For many years, residents of College Point and beyond had public access to parkland adjacent to the west side of the Tallman Island Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in College Point (127-01 Powell's Cove Blvd.), and to an adjoining waterfront path that wrapped around the treatment plant and out to a pier. That pier was College Point's most popular fishing area, and the park and pathway gave us access to precious waterfront views. About 15 years ago, all public access to the park and pier was closed off due to new construction projects at the facility. Environmental review documents filed in 2005 with NYS by the  NYC Department of  Environmental Protection (DEP), which operates the treatment plant, pledged that most of the park (2.5 acres of what was formerly 2.75 acres) along with the pathway and pier access, would be returned to public access when the construction is complete. The construction was completed, but the park, path and pier were not reopened.

This spring, the DEP announced a new project to upgrade the bulkhead, pathway, lighting, and bulkhead at the 30-acre facility. No public access to the park or path is included in this new plan. At Coastal Preservation Network's request, Community Board 7 held a special environment committee meeting on May 20 with DEP, stakeholders and elected officials to request that public access be restored, as was promised. It was a productive dialogue and the DEP did not reject our request. We will soon make a site visit with DEP and officials, and we ask that you sign on to this petition to let our officials know how strongly you feel that public access should be restored. All of us deserve to again enjoy the park and the waterfront path, and the ability to walk on at least part of the pier.

Those of us who grew up in College Point probably remember spending parts of childhood in this park, and walking out to the pier and perhaps fishing for hours. Those were the days when Carwood Swim Club (aka Wings Pool) and  the College Point Athletic Club (with those memorable dances!) were across the street to the south, and the College Point Yacht Club was right where it sits today. Over the years, the town has become far more congested, with large condo developments being built along our waterfront, and coastal open space disappearing. Access to parkland and waterfront views is essential for health and well-being, particularly in a congested community.

We are not asking for anything new -- public access as described was a part of Tallman Island there for as long as anyone can remember. We just want what was originally part of the College Point community. The sewage treatment plant treats up to 80 million gallons of wastewater per day from nearly half a million Northeast Queens residents, and the College Point community has received no concessions for housing this facility, even though it has been expanded several times since its 1930s construction. Other sewage treatment plants have been given public amenities as givebacks for construction/expansion. Access to a simple small park, path and pier were the only added benefit to the town and are all that we are looking for. College Point has also has absorbed other large municipal facilities over the years that continue to serve people far beyond our borders. The North Shore Marine Transfer Station, which takes trash from Community Boards 7 through 14, handles 2,200 tons of municipal waste and up to 1,000 tons of commercial waste every day via barges. We also have the NYPD Academy, where all of the city's police cadets receive their training;  and the NYPD tow pound. 

Please sign on to this petition and let your elected officials and agency representatives know that you fully support the return of public access to the perimeter of Tallman Island.

A few things to note:

• Public access will probably not  be restored to the furthest-out portion of the bulkhead/dock, because the DEP said there are  safety and security risks. Large sludge vessels regularly dock here and connect the boat hoses to the facility's outflow pipe valves on the bulkhead so the sludge can be transferred onto  the boat. There is no guardrail (although a guardrail is proposed in this latest construction project). But we would like access to at least a portion of the bulkhead, and it was suggested that DEP could simply install a security gate if it's determined they need to close off the outer reaches.
• Other sewage treatment plants have been given public amenities as givebacks for construction/expansion. At the Newtown Creek STP (Brooklyn/Queens border), they've created a public pathway bordering the treatment plant as a giveback for construction/expansion at the site, and also built a small park and visitor's center for the public to learn the science of STPs. The North River Sewage Treatment Plant in Manhattan has a 28-acre state park and recreational facility on top, as a giveback to the community.
• The upcoming proposed project at Tallman Island will include plantings to beautify the easternmost segment of Powell's Cove Boulevard, as well as returning 1.85 acres of  parkland back to the NYC Parks Department. That land, at the dead end of Powell's Cove Blvd., was fenced off and used for construction vehicles during the plant's upgrades.