Park Resiliency Projects in NYC
Shamir Javed
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Parks play a significant role in improving the environment and protecting it from extreme weather conditions such as floods and storms. In recent years especially, the parks in New York City are being paid great attention in order to achieve the city’s goal of long term resiliency. In short, Park Resiliency is the ability for parks to withstand and recover from such climatic events. Furthermore, resiliency also refers to the ability of these parks to withstand gradual threats such as sea-level rise as well. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has been paying great attention to these climatic events and many resilience projects are already in the works.
Future design of South Battery Park bpca.ny.gov/sbpcrp/
South Battery Park Resiliency Project
South Battery Park Resiliency Project
One such example is the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project (SBPCR). Due to the occurrence of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, (which resulted in the loss of 44 lives in the city and billions in economic loss), it became necessary for drastic measures to be taken. The South Battery Park City Resiliency project is a part of the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency project (LMCR) which was created in order to protect Battery Park City and other coastal areas in Manhattan from storm surge.
Aims and goals
Aims and goals
The SBPCR will not only protect the park but the adjacent community as well and create an integrated coastal flood risk management system. Moreover, the project aims to reduce disruption to existing below- and above-ground infrastructure (such as tunnels and the subway system), and preserve open space resources so that people are able to view and interact with the Manhattan waterfront. These are essential steps that need to be taken in order to protect the city and its people since sea levels are rising at an accelerated rate, the Battery alone has seen a nine inch increase in levels since 1950.
Ariel View of the ESCR design
East Coast Resiliency Project
East Coast Resiliency Project
Another project in the works is the East Coast Resiliency project. Due to the joint funding by the City of New York and the Federal government, the city will rebuild Manhattan’s waterfront to protect parks and communities across the 2.4 miles of Manhattan’s east side. It is being led by the New York City Department of Design and Construction in partnership with several agencies in the city.
What is Changing at East River Park?
What is Changing at East River Park?
Future view of East River Park from Houston Street
View of Future entrance to Murphy Brothers Playground
The ESCR project is based on scientific research and aims to tackle future problems of sea-level rise through 2050, responds to projected effects of waves, and the standards for 100-year flood levels set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition, the city will elevate and reconstruct the East River Park by installing floodwalls and protecting the diverse plants and vegetation along with keeping neighborhoods safe. The project will also provide improved park access and numerous amenities such as tennis courts, track and field, and playgrounds.
What does the Future hold
What does the Future hold
While both the East Coast Resiliency project and the South Battery Park City project aim to combat most, if not all, of the issues the city’s parks have been facing and might face in the future as weather conditions seem to get more extreme and sea-level continues to rise. While the development of floodwalls and recreation facilities would be extremely beneficial to the city, its parks, and people, it is important to continue to find new approaches to improve the resiliency of parks since global warming and climate change seems to be at an all time high.
Sources:
East Side Coastal Resiliency : NYC Parks. https://www.nycgovparks.org/planning-and-building/planning/neighborhood-development/east-side-coastal-resiliency.
“South Battery Park City Resiliency Project - Battery Park City Authority.” BATTERY PARK CITY AUTHORITY ICal, https://bpca.ny.gov/sbpcrp/.
Battery Park City Resilience Projects, https://www.nyc.gov/site/lmcr/progress/battery-park-city-resilience-projects.page.
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