STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Clove Lakes Park is known for its peaceful scenery, wildlife and popular lake, but residents are now looking at the water with a very different feeling as officials investigate a potential sewage discharge.
The park may look calm from the surface, but the possibility that sewage entered its waterways has sparked concern and anger among people who regularly spend time there.
New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the potential sewage discharge, but officials have not yet said where it may have originated.
Because the investigation remains ongoing, the agency has also not disclosed how much material may have entered the waterways.
For residents who visit the park frequently, those unanswered questions are unsettling. Emily Phelps, who regularly goes to the park, said the possibility of sewage in the water is particularly disturbing because she has noticed unpleasant smells in the area.
“I’m grossed out by it, because sometimes it smells terrible,” Phelps said.
Park Visitors Question What Is in the Water
The concerns extend beyond unpleasant odors. Loretta Flaherty, another resident, said she was upset by the possibility that sewage could be affecting a natural area that people expect to be clean.
“I think it’s disgusting,” Flaherty said. “This is nature. We want it to be beautiful.”
The possibility of contamination is also making longtime visitors rethink activities they once enjoyed without hesitation. Michael Stella said he has been fishing at the lake for years, practicing catch and release. But news of a potential sewage discharge has caused him to question whether he should continue.
“It makes me second guess everything. You want to be able to enjoy [it]. This park is beautiful,” Stella said.
For residents like Stella, the issue is not simply about whether the lake looks clean. It is about whether people can safely and comfortably use the park and its waterways.
Officials Investigate Potential Pollution
The situation involves multiple government agencies because of the lake’s unusual jurisdiction. While the lake is technically part of New York City, the possible pollution issue is currently being investigated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that the potential pollution problem is now a state matter, while management of the lake itself falls under NYC Parks.
NYC Parks said in a statement that safety is a top priority and that the agency will comply with any recommendations made by the DEC. However, that response has not completely eased concerns among residents who want to know what may have entered the water.
With the investigation still underway, key details remain unknown, including the source of the suspected discharge and its potential extent.
Residents Demand Better Protection for Waterways
The controversy has also revived broader frustrations about pollution and the condition of local waterways. Kevin Peters said residents should not have to accept pollution as an unavoidable part of living near urban waterways.
“It’s a cliché. It’s tiring. Why are we accepting the fact that our waterways are polluted? It shouldn’t be that way,” Peters said.
His comments reflect a growing concern among residents that pollution should not become something communities simply learn to tolerate.
For people who visit Clove Lakes Park to fish, walk, observe wildlife or enjoy the scenery, the investigation has raised uncomfortable questions about what may be beneath the surface.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
At this point, authorities have not identified the source of the potential sewage discharge, and there has been no official estimate of how much may have entered the waterways.
The DEC’s investigation is continuing, while NYC Parks says it will follow any recommendations issued by the state agency.
Until officials determine what happened, residents are left waiting for answers about the condition of a lake they consider an important part of their community.
The concerns are about more than appearances. For many Staten Island residents, Clove Lakes Park is a place to relax and connect with nature—and they want to know that the water and surrounding environment are being properly protected.
Would a potential sewage discharge change how you use Clove Lakes Park? Share your thoughts in the comments.
