Polluted from both its industrial past and the city's present-day sewer system, community leaders have pushed for years to get Coney Island Creek included on either New York State or the federal government's Superfund lists. But it hasn't been easy.
While the last decade has seen cleanup efforts planned or launched at some of the city's most polluted waterways, the community has struggled to get traction for a comprehensive cleaning plan for Coney Island Creek, despite its continued recreational use and multiple requests for action by local leaders.