August 16, 2019

Green Infrastructure Absorbs Stormwater and Improves the Health of Flushing Creek

Photos Can Be Found on DEP’s Flickr Page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) joined Thursday with NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, City Council Member Peter Koo, Community Board 7 District Manager Marilyn McAndrews, Queens Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett, and local community members to officially cut the ribbon on the newly reconstructed Bowne Playground in Flushing, Queens. The $5.8 million project was funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio under the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), with a $350,000 allocation from DEP for green infrastructure that will help to reduce flooding and improve the health of Flushing Creek. Construction was completed in April.

To manage stormwater runoff, six green infrastructure rain gardens were added throughout Bowne Playground, which will help to capture approximately 850,000 gallons of stormwater each year. DEP has committed approximately $50 million in funding for green infrastructure installations at CPI sites throughout the city, helping to reduce sewer overflows that sometimes occur during heavy rainfall, improve air quality, and lower summertime temperatures.

“Bowne Playground represents another playground beautifully revitalized thanks to the strategic partnership between DEP and NYC Parks. This newly revamped community space also utilizes innovative green infrastructure that will manage stormwater to reduce flooding and improve the health of nearby waterways, including Flushing Creek” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “I want to commend Commissioner Silver and his team for their commitment to making New York City a greener, more resilient place to call home.”

“Bowne Playground has been transformed into a haven for the children of Flushing, their families and neighbors,” said Commissioner Silver. “Thanks to Mayor de Blasio’s investment, this treasured community space now offers great amenities for the entire neighborhood and will serve as a vital green space for generations to come.

“Every summer, Bowne Playground is packed with people who have to make the most out of the worn down equipment and crumbling infrastructure. Today our entire community is ecstatic to see downtown Flushing’s flagship recreational space finally get a much needed upgrade,” said Council Member Peter Koo. “From the basketball courts to the play equipment, everything here is top notch and designed to fit the wants and needs of our community for generations to come. This is the 10th playground to get a full renovation in my Council District during my term, and I’m grateful to the Parks Department and Mayor’s Office their shared commitment to improving our parks, playgrounds and public spaces.”

The newly renovated Bowne Playground features new play equipment, swings, a spray shower, basketball and handball courts, an open asphalt play area, seating and decorative landscaping.

Launched by Mayor de Blasio in October 2014, CPI strives to make NYC Parks a more equitable and accessible parks system by investing in smaller parks that are located in New York City’s densely-populated neighborhoods with higher-than-average concentrations of poverty. Through CPI, the City is investing $318 million in capital dollars to make renovations to 67 parks citywide that have not undergone significant improvements in decades.

This playground honors Walter Bowne (1770-1846), a state senator and New York City mayor. As mayor, Bowne is remembered for his strict policies aimed at preventing cholera epidemics in the city. His summer residence once stood on this property until March 1925, when a fire destroyed the home. NYC Parks and the Department of Education jointly operate Bowne Playground. The playground, located on Union Street between Sanford and Barclay Avenues, opened in November 1950 to supplement the recreational facilities of the local community and adjacent school. P.S. 20 is named for John Bowne, the first representative of the Bowne name in the Flushing area.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.5 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.1 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.