Science and Technology of New York City

Thomas P. O’Connor. “Commentary on Gowanus Canal Sponge Park™.” Ecological Restoration 29.4 (2011): 401-402. Project MUSE. Web. 5 Oct. 2012. <http://muse.jhu.edu/>.

Thomas P. O’Connor is an environmental engineer who has a M.S. in environmental engineering and currently works for the EPA. He has done research on almost all areas of wet-weather flow including combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows, storm runoff, non-point source and storm water discharges. As this is a commentary on a research paper, he doesn’t have a main thesis, but he shares an overall sense of approval of the idea of having a Sponge Park primarily because of its ability to reduce the amount of CSOs and water runoff. He goes on to advise that the contamination of soil may not allow the soil to infiltrate into the storm water.

I am presuming that the intended audience is someone who has previously read the Gowanus Canal Sponge Park, which I have but another group member already wrote about it. The article is biased, but in a more fair because it supports the formation of the Sponge Park and doesn’t slander anything. This commentary is effective because it gives a professional’s point of view, but is weak in the sense that because it’s a commentary, there isn’t a well-formed list of sources to get any further information. The information supports my project because it reconfirms the effectiveness of the Sponge Park. In terms of relevance, it can be used to give an effective critique of the Sponge Park.