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High Island is a small private island next to City Island. It is an island at most times, except for being connected to City Island by a permanent sandbar that emerges at very low tide. It is also connected to City Island by a small private bridge.

130 years ago, High Island was known as Spectacle Island. More recently, it was privately owned with summer rental cottages and a lifesaving station until the late 1950's, when it was purchased to use for radio transmission towers.

As of 2004, it is owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a division of media giant Viacom International. It houses the transmitters and antenna towers for both WCBS Newsradio 880 AM and WFAN Sportsradio 660 AM (previously known as WNBC). The island is currently uninhabited, but is attended 24 hours a day by workers manning the transmission equipment. Access from City Island is restricted by a large security fence and gate on King Avenue which surrounds the bridge ramp and roadway and the area in and around the two transmitters.

The taller of the towers is 549 feet. WCBS/WFAN have applied to raise the other tower to the same height, but the local community of City Island is opposed to any such improvements. There are concerns about getting cancer from the radio frequency energy, which is strong enough to power a small flashlight! The case is in litigation.

The island is mostly an outcrop of bedrock with many trees, with a small swamp on its southwest side.

High Island is a Restricted Area off limits to the public.

External Links

[http://www.terraserver.com/imagery/image_gx.asp?cpx=-73.786903&cpy=40.847198&res=8&provider_id=305 

Satellite Map of High Island]

http://en.wikipedia.org/The_Pelham_Islands

• Islands of New York