Newtown Creek Nature Walk Finishes Construction 23 Years After Original Proposal
The final sections of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk are now open to the public. May 7th, 2021
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The final sections of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk are now open to the public. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
A swale travels through the center of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk’s newest section, channeling rainwater into two wetlands. May 7th, 2021
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A swale travels through the center of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk’s newest section, channeling rainwater into two wetlands. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
This covered shelter was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, according to artist George Trakas, who first proposed the nature walk in 1998. He describes it as “a temple for water.” May 7th, 2021
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This covered shelter was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, according to artist George Trakas, who first proposed the nature walk in 1998. He describes it as “a temple for water.” May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
Inside the shelter is a water fountain carved out of a 3.5 billion-year-old chunk of Morton Gneiss, one of the Earth’s oldest rocks. The footprints are an homage to the moon landing and early indigenous residents of the creek. May 7th, 2021
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Inside the shelter is a water fountain carved out of a 3.5 billion-year-old chunk of Morton Gneiss, one of the Earth’s oldest rocks. The footprints are an homage to the moon landing and early indigenous residents of the creek. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
The Newtown Creek Nature Walk includes a collection of 385 million-year-old fossilized tree stumps from the Gilboa forest in New York. These are some of the oldest tree fossils in the world. May 7th, 2021
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The Newtown Creek Nature Walk includes a collection of 385 million-year-old fossilized tree stumps from the Gilboa forest in New York. These are some of the oldest tree fossils in the world. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
Visitors to the nature walk are invited to walk on stones containing 400 million-year-old Brachiopod fossils from a quarry in New York. May 7th, 2021
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Visitors to the nature walk are invited to walk on stones containing 400 million-year-old Brachiopod fossils from a quarry in New York. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
A dozen solar-powered lamps are scattered through the new wetlands, etched with the names of stars used by navigators. May 7th, 2021
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A dozen solar-powered lamps are scattered through the new wetlands, etched with the names of stars used by navigators. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
A second bioswale leads visitors through newly planted wetlands and to the edge of Whale Creek. May 7th, 2021
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A second bioswale leads visitors through newly planted wetlands and to the edge of Whale Creek. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
A shelter shaped like a primitive canoe/kayak, inspired by early navigators and by the handmade boats that Trakas has used to paddle the Newtown Creek since 1970. May 7th, 2021
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A shelter shaped like a primitive canoe/kayak, inspired by early navigators and by the handmade boats that Trakas has used to paddle the Newtown Creek since 1970. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
Under the shelter is a table etched with the blueprint for the USS Monitor, the famed ironclad warship that was built in Greenpoint during the Civil War. May 7th, 2021
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Under the shelter is a table etched with the blueprint for the USS Monitor, the famed ironclad warship that was built in Greenpoint during the Civil War. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
The Newtown Creek Nature Walk travels over Whale Creek in a series of three 60-foot vessels, which echo a larger vessel located at the entrance of the artwork’s first phase. May 7th, 2021
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The Newtown Creek Nature Walk travels over Whale Creek in a series of three 60-foot vessels, which echo a larger vessel located at the entrance of the artwork’s first phase. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
The gunwales of the vessels contain a word puzzle that references the history of Newtown Creek, the periodic table and The Big Bang. May 7th, 2021
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The gunwales of the vessels contain a word puzzle that references the history of Newtown Creek, the periodic table and The Big Bang. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist
Like the entire artwork, the text in the vessels takes visitors back in time 14 billion years to the beginning of the universe. May 7th, 2021
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Like the entire artwork, the text in the vessels takes visitors back in time 14 billion years to the beginning of the universe. May 7th, 2021
Nathan Kensinger for Gothamist