In its heyday in the years leading up to World War II, the 3.8-mile Newtown Creek was one of the busiest commercial waterways in the United States, second only to the Mississippi River in tonnage. Today, the creek is better known as one of the most polluted waterways in the country. As the dividing line between Brooklyn and Queens, Newtown Creek is now at the center of some of the most rapidly changing neighborhoods in the city.

Open House New York invites you on a boat tour up the creek to learn about its history, the bridges that cross it, the thriving industrial districts that line its banks, and what is in store for its future. Join representatives from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection for a presentation about Greenpoint’s iconic Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant – the largest of fourteen in the city – followed by a discussion of the area’s industrial legacy with Newtown Creek Alliance Historian Mitch Waxman and Program Manager Will Elkins.

Visit the event website for details on registration and pricing.