Neighbors tour Bay park sewage plant

The Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant opened its gates last week to more than 50 residents who toured the facility, which is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation to repair the damage it sustained in Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

“The idea of this is to have everyone who has concerns, questions, ideas — anything about the plant — to have a chance to see firsthand some of the work that’s going on here,” said Peter Glus, senior vice president of Arcadis, the developer in charge of the rebuilding effort. “We want people to know that we’re working to get this done as best we can. The money is being spent, improvements are being made, and the job is getting done.”

Some residents who took the tour said they came with questions about the work at the plant, while others simply hoped for a glimpse inside. “I’m here for a couple of reasons,” said Morgan Fayden, who lives in East Rockaway. “First, I just want to see what’s going on at the plant. I always hear people talking about it or hear about working going on there; I wanted to see what was going on. Second, I want to know what they’re doing with some of the gases produced as a result of what goes on here.”

John Kenny, who lives in Bay Park, said he wanted to find out more about the plant operations that have frustrated him. “I live very close to the plant, and I can still hear those generators when they kick on, and the smells can get really bad,” he said. “It can be a real problem for me at home, dealing with those things so often, so I want a look at why they’re happening, and what they hope can be done about it.”

The tour began at the plant’s southwest entrance, on Harbor Road, and went along its perimeter. Residents were shown construction on the Western Park, which has mostly remained open during the construction, as well as a portion of the berm, a wall-like structure that will help protect the plant from flooding. Made mostly of concrete and clay, the berm is scheduled be completed next year.