New York City has suspended all boating and fishing activities in Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island, citing an abundance of caution following reports of persistent human waste pollution in the lake. The decision comes one week after The Post reported that the contamination had been an open secret for decades.

The Parks Department stated on Friday evening that the suspension would remain in place while water testing results are analyzed. Earlier that day, boat rental workers confirmed that rentals had continued throughout the week, though sales had reportedly declined since the pollution became public knowledge.

Efforts to Reroute Sewage

In response to the growing concern, The Stone House, a restaurant located at Clove Lakes Park, has taken steps to address the sewage issue. The establishment has installed PVC pipes to reroute its sewer line directly into a Parks Department manhole, diverting waste away from the lake. Additionally, temporary portable bathrooms not connected to the sewer line have been added to the premises.

A source indicated that the restaurant has been actively working to resolve the situation, with patrons expressing relief that the issue is finally being addressed.

Long-Standing Contamination

The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which oversees monitoring of Clove Lake, is conducting tests to determine the necessary remediation steps. According to a source, the lake and park are city property. A 2022 licensing agreement between the vendor operating The Stone House and the city Parks Department allocated $200,000 for repairs to drainage structures, plumbing, and utilities. An amendment to this agreement from July revealed that both parties were aware of a collapsed sewer line.

However, a plumber who worked at the restaurant approximately 20 years ago, prior to the current operators taking over, stated that sewage problems had persisted for at least two decades. "They had lots and lots of stoppages, every time you turned around they were calling, their dishwasher was always stopping up, our snakes would pull up mud, we didn’t know where it came from," the plumber said.

The DEC has declined to comment on active investigations.