December 7, 2022

Program kick-off held at P.S. 52 to promote civic engagement and encourage outdoor learning; photos are available on DEP’s Flickr Page

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Chief Operating Officer Vincent Sapienza and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella today joined with P.S. 52 in Midland Beach to announce a program inviting schoolchildren to adopt nearby Bluebelt ponds and re-name them for the purpose of learning about the environmental benefits offered by these ecologically rich, engineered drainage systems.

“The naming of ponds in the Bluebelt would give community members a greater personal connection to the Bluebelt ecosystems in their neighborhoods,” said Borough President Fossella. “Having students from local schools name these ponds gives students the opportunity to think in environmentally creative ways. This approach is exemplified by Jack’s Pond in Great Kills which was named after a turtle and has since been adopted by St. Clare School.”

“This program is a wonderful way for young environmental stewards to connect to the gorgeous Bluebelt projects in their neighborhoods and learn how these engineering marvels are helping us make Staten Island more resilient to our changing climate,” said Department of Environmental Protection Chief Operating Officer Sapienza.

Bluebelt ponds currently have technical names comprised of letters and numbers that indicate their location within the Bluebelt system. Borough President Fossella and COO Sapienza asked the students at P.S. 52 to propose three options for a new name for NC-13, the large new pond within the ‘Gateway to the Bluebelt’ project on Hylan Boulevard, near Stobe Avenue.

The criteria of the naming contest is as follows:

• The proposed names should focus on animals, natural features, or a geographic quality of the pond. Naming the pond after a person is not permitted.
• The students will present their suggestions to the principal, who in turn will forward three choices to the Borough President and DEP for review.
• The Borough President and DEP will decide on a final selection, with deference given to DEP.

Bluebelts are ecologically rich and cost-effective drainage systems that naturally handle the runoff precipitation that falls on our streets and sidewalks. Originally implemented in Staten Island, the program preserves natural drainage corridors including streams, ponds, and wetlands, and enhances them to perform their functions of conveying, storing, and filtering runoff precipitation or stormwater. In addition to being an excellent mechanism for reducing urban flooding and improving the health of local waterways, Bluebelts also provide open green space for their communities and diverse habitat for wildlife since they are not constricted by closed pipes or underground infrastructure like traditional storm sewers. As New York City prepares for rising sea levels and heavier rains due to climate change, Bluebelts offer a natural and effective solution for stable and sound stormwater management.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.8 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 also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.