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Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs
A guide to the forgotten waterways hidden throughout the five boroughs Beneath the asphalt streets of Manhattan, creeks and streams once flowed freely. The remnants of these once-pristine waterways are all over the Big Apple, hidden in plain sight. Hidden Waters of New York City offers a glimpse at the big city’s forgotten past and ever-changing present,
Filled with eye-opening historical anecdotes and walking tours of all five boroughs, this is a side of New York City you’ve never seen. 50 black-and-white photographs
Filled with eye-opening historical anecdotes and walking tours of all five boroughs, this is a side of New York City you’ve never seen. 50 black-and-white photographs
354 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 17, 2024
Charming book written in a tour-guide style fashion. The book structure rotates clockwise around New York City. Each waterway receives a Lonely Planet sized snippet documenting it's history (and demise) and present circumstances along with a bulleted list of directions and notable nearby sights.
For the reader interesting in the history of NYC or the colonial era, or someone with an academic interest in coastal development, the book contains an abundance of anecdotes and stories to make this a worthwhile read. Further, as waterfront development intensifies in NYC, the relevance of this book increases.
Two flaws that will hopefully be fixed in a later edition. The first is, as others have noted, the complete absence of maps. This is a strange editorial and graphics decision as the writer consistently invokes detailed references to landmarks and street names. A a consistent graphics treatment with inset maps would have greatly elevated the book. I had google maps open on my tablet 50% of the time while reading -- not pleasant. The second flaw is that the book lacks a primer on coastal and watershed restoration. This may seem out of scope, but the author discusses concepts like 'daylighting,' tidal flushing, and aeration -- and assigns normative judgments i.e. daylighting = good. Yet, there is no introduction to the motivations behind restoration or the mechanics causing many of the environmental and public health challenges associated with the destruction and modification of New York's waterways.
For the reader interesting in the history of NYC or the colonial era, or someone with an academic interest in coastal development, the book contains an abundance of anecdotes and stories to make this a worthwhile read. Further, as waterfront development intensifies in NYC, the relevance of this book increases.
Two flaws that will hopefully be fixed in a later edition. The first is, as others have noted, the complete absence of maps. This is a strange editorial and graphics decision as the writer consistently invokes detailed references to landmarks and street names. A a consistent graphics treatment with inset maps would have greatly elevated the book. I had google maps open on my tablet 50% of the time while reading -- not pleasant. The second flaw is that the book lacks a primer on coastal and watershed restoration. This may seem out of scope, but the author discusses concepts like 'daylighting,' tidal flushing, and aeration -- and assigns normative judgments i.e. daylighting = good. Yet, there is no introduction to the motivations behind restoration or the mechanics causing many of the environmental and public health challenges associated with the destruction and modification of New York's waterways.
February 19, 2023
I like to understand the differences that have occurred in the land where I live. I am a former resident of NYC, the Bronx borough, where I learned about the parts of the areas where Edgar Allen Poe lived and walked a forest with a forge of waterfalls, which only partially exists within the Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo site at present. This more inclusive book covers the entire NYC, not just Manhattan, which everyone thinks is the NYC. It is amazing that beneath many places in New York that are now concrete is water flowing still. So when I hear about flooding in basements, which in New York are under street level, that means that section is built on a covered water way.
Also with all the environmental movements, it was interesting to read about how the different fresh water drinking sources were contaminted by the various industries that poured their wastes directly into the water source. The current East River which is currently being dreg to "clean it" from its murky existence is finally starting to become able to sustain fish and shellfish again.
This was an interesting read
Also with all the environmental movements, it was interesting to read about how the different fresh water drinking sources were contaminted by the various industries that poured their wastes directly into the water source. The current East River which is currently being dreg to "clean it" from its murky existence is finally starting to become able to sustain fish and shellfish again.
This was an interesting read
July 25, 2017
Useful as a reference guide but I would have preferred something with a little more material--either more of a narrative history of these places or more of a travelogue of the author's experiences/encounters as he went to these sites. Also, not the author's fault but I wish it had more and bigger pictures.
April 28, 2024
Fascinating and really well researched. Recommended for anyone who’s curious about what New York was before it was…this!
December 6, 2016
Awesome book. Combines history, nature and travel guide all in one. Covering all 5 boroughs, it is an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews