Thirteen Steps Around Dutch Kills
Guide: Mitch Waxman, Newtown Creek Alliance historian
To most people, Newtown Creek—declared a Superfund site in 2010—is one of the most toxic waterways in the country. But to Waxman, it represents New York City’s forgotten industrial past. Visitors will spy this history as they follow the creek as it winds from Long Island City to the Dutch Kills tributary, and across the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge into Brooklyn. Look for vestiges of now-abandoned railways, factory sites and bridges, as well as the accumulated pollution from chemical factories, oil refineries and sewer outfalls. “You don’t get a Manhattan without a Newtown Creek,” explains Waxman. “That’s the price.” Meet at Albert E. Short Triangle park, Jackson Ave and 23rd St, Long Island City, Queens; 10am–2pm; $15.
For the third year, Obscura Day, happening Saturday 28, investigates the quirky pasts of lesser-known landmarks. The worldwide celebration boasts numerous local options, from hidden underground waterways to a magical library. Five leaders previewed their treks into forgotten histories.
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