July 16, 2020

Photos and Videos of the work are available for download

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today joined with NYC Parks and Council Member Costa Constantinides to announce that work has been completed to upgrade the drainage system along Shore Boulevard in Astoria Park. By better managing the stormwater that falls in the Park, the new drainage system will help to alleviate the chronic flooding condition that at times made the roadway impassable to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Ensuring that Shore Boulevard and Astoria Park is safe for the community is of paramount concern so we were pleased to join with NYC Parks and Council Member Constantinides to complete this drainage upgrade as quickly as possible,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.

“Upgrading the drainage system along Shore Boulevard was critical to mitigating chronic flooding and strengthening Astoria Park’s resiliency against future storms.” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver. “We’re grateful to DEP and Council Member Constantinides for prioritizing the needs of the community and restoring this waterfront roadway for pedestrians, cyclists, and residents.”

“Shore Boulevard has functioned more like a canal than a road during the last few summers as heavy rain has regularly flooded the street,” said Council Member Costa Constantinides, District 22. “Climate change will pose more challenges for Shore Boulevard, which is why residents have sought a fix to this problem for years now. I'm so thrilled we were able to deliver a drainage solution in partnership with DEP and the Parks Department.”

Shore Boulevard hugs the eastern shoreline of the East River between the Robert F. Kennedy and Hell Gate Bridges, and is situated at the base of Astoria Park. The upgrade included two components: adding a second 8-inch diameter pipe connecting a catch basin on the east side of Shore Boulevard to the basin on the west side of the roadway, and raising and enlarging the outfall into the East River, which was often blocked by the high-tide cycle. When it was determined that the upgrade would entail this type of intensive work, DEP volunteered its services to ensure it could be completed in a timely manner.

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 8.3 million in New York City. 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. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.