Water Tunnel Security to Require More of Octagon Park

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wants substantially more of Octagon Park for the site of City Water Tunnel No. 3. The purpose is to increase the security of the site and the water tunnel beneath it.

In the plan presented Thursday to the Board of Directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), DEP projects increasing the portion of the park it would control nine-fold, from 7,000 square feet to 65,000 square feet. Other easements bring the total to 114,000 square feet. The area, shown outlined in red, is to be fenced, with 24-hour security against terrorist access to the shaft, designated 15B, that services the tunnel.

In the RIOC meeting, it was also revealed that the tunnel site will be used for chlorination, with trucks delivering a liquid chlorine supply over Island roads at least twice a week. Resident Board member Michael Shinozaki raised questions about safety concerns in transporting the substance, which is highly toxic in concentration. Other resident Board members, including David Kraut, asked, "What does the Island get in return?" One suggestion, supported by Deborah Beck, was for help with landscaping or other needs at Southpoint Park.

Access for the chlorine trucks and other service equipment would apparently require retention of the service road immediately west of the Octagon Park Apartments, an area where Octagon construction plans anticipated removing the road in favor of increasing available parkland. The plan also calls for additional roads connecting to Main Street, including one between the existing baseball field and tennis courts.

No action was taken on the matter, but RIOC is to meet with DEP personnel to determine in detail exactly what is required for the security plan, and to negotiate a revision of the plan set forth in a 1999 memorandum of understanding.