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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey.
Commissioner of Public Works Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti on direction of the Mayor’s Office, told WPCNR this evening that
SILVER LAKE, 2002: When the County leased the Lake to White Plains for Liberty Park. The
.A “stench” has been smelled coming from the lake for at least two months according to a restaurenteur, Chef Andrea. The business owner, who owns Chef Andrea’s on Lake Street said that the
At no time has there been a public notice from the City of
A WPCNR reader informed WPCNR of the closing of the park this afternoon, which was never officially announced or confirmed by the city or the county until today when WPCNR contacted the Department of Recreation and Parks. Apparently the only notice is a closed sign at the park.
Debra Clay the Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks for the City of White Plains confirmed that Liberty Park was closed but told WPCNR to contact the Mayor’s office for further information. She had no comment on why the park was closed.
Answering Machine Answers at the Mayor’s Office.
WPCNR contacted the Mayor’s Office at
WPCNR contacted the Department of Public Works of White Plains, and the DPW employee picking up the telephone said he did not know why the park was closed.
WPCNR contacted the Department of Communications of
A White Plains Department of Public Safety source, speaking on condition of anonymity told
Contacting the Harrison Department of Public Works, WPCNR was told I was to contact the Westchester County Executive’s Office who could inform me, so I called the County Executive’s Office, and Larry Schwartz, Deputy County Executive office and was transferred to an answering machine, then I was transferred back to the Department of Communications, which again they said they would have someone get back to me on the park closing and alleged pollution.
In conversation with County Legislator Bill Ryan Friday evening, Ryan told WPCNR that he first heard about the closing problem the beginning of August, when he received calls from residents about it.
Ryan told WPCNR “dye tests” were done on the
Mystery Stench.
Ryan was asked had the cause of the pollution in the lake been pinpointed. He said “No one knows.”
Ryan said there was some speculation by officials that the heavy rain of July 18th might have overflowed the sewers or storm drains and caused a back up of polluting waters into the lake.
It could not be determined by WPCNR Friday evening, whether it was technically possible for the sewer lines to back up raw sewage into the lake, or whether the storm water drains could cause such pollution that would cause the sewage-like stench that has plagued the lake for approximately a month.
Ryan said that under the terms of the City of
Ryan said that the City of
No Announcements?
That Legislator Ryan is familiar with the problem raises the question of why the City of
In the latest development of this unfolding story, a statement from Commissioner Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti of the White Plains Department of Public Works, confirms the lake’s water has a “fairly high levels of bacteria:”
He stated exclusively to WPCNR Friday night,
“We did some bacteria tests as late as last week, and the results came back with fairly high levels of bacteria in the water. I had forwarded those on to the County Health Department, and I am waiting for their opinions, as to what to do for the water, whether to open the park for water sports and so forth.
But, not hearing back from them yet. I’m just playing it conservative, and it’s my recommendation the park be closed on the
I have been in close contact with the County Health Department, and this is going back the last month or so. I did a second round of bacteria tests just last week, and high counts of bacteria were indicated, and these were done by the county lab. I still haven’t gotten the actual written reports yet, but I have got a verbal. I forwarded that on to the County Health Department.
I’m waiting for them to make a judgment or to give me their take on it.”
HAPPIER DAYS: October 29, 2002, County Executive Andy Spano, left, and Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains sign the agreement where the County leased 23 acres of Liberty Park land on the West Side of Silver Lake with the stipulation that White Plains was responsible for maintenance and condition of both the parkland and Silver Lake. Bill Ryan in “Westchester” jacket looks on. Photo, WPCNR News Archive
The City of White Plains spent approximately $600,000 to open the park its first year in 2003 and was scheduled to spend an additional $300,000 to complete the park. It is open in the spring and summer months for boating and kayaking, and fishing.
According to Legislator Ryan the park has been closed for the last month due to the unrelenting stench, unreported until this time.