 Two-thirds of the island's area is taken up with the wastewater plant, which treats sewage from 43 nearby cities and towns, and is the second-largest such plant in the United States.The remainder of the island is park land surrounding the treatment plant, and offers walking, jogging, sightseeing, picnicking, and fishing.It was once leased to Sir Thomas Temple (1614–1674), a British proprietor and governor of Nova Scotia although this descent was debunked by E. A. Freeman in the 19th century.