FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE00-22
June
14, 2000
Contact:
Geoff Ryan
(718/595-5371)
Municipal
Art Society of New York Awards Department of Environmental Protection
Certificate of Merit for Repair of Gowanus Flushing Tunnel
At
a ceremony on June 12, 2000, the Municipal Art Society awarded the
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a Certificate
of Merit for its role in revitalizing and resurrecting Brooklyns
Gowanus Canal and transforming it from a fetid, smelly, oily
waterway that cuts through the heart of brownstone Brooklyn
into a ... home to fish, blue crabs, ducks, and even oysters.
DEP shares the award with Salvatore Buddy Scotto, a member
of the Gowanus Canal neighborhood community, whose tireless efforts
over more than three decades saw his dream realized.
Commissioner Miele said, We are most appreciative of the Municipal
Art Society's recognition of the completion of this important project.
The man-made Gowanus Canal was built in 1860 for navigational purposes.
In 1911 to prevent stagnation in the canal due to limited tidal exchanges,
a flushing tunnel was built to facilitate an exchange of oxygen from
Buttermilk Channel in the East River. In the 1960s, the flushing mechanism
was damaged and ceased operations. It was not until 1992 that the
City initiated a project to revitalize the Canal and rescue it from
its torpid and stagnant state. We are proud that the long-awaited
restoration of the flushing tunnel is complete, due to a combination
of Mr. Scotto's tireless work on behalf of his community and Mayor
Giuliani's vision for revitalizing the City.