September 12, 2024

New Playground will Absorb more than 800,000 Gallons of Stormwater Annually, Helping to Reduce Flooding, Backups into Homes and Businesses, and Polluted Overflows into the East River; Photos Available Here

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today joined with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and other funders to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Green Infrastructure schoolyard at Bronx Latin (X267), Dr Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School (X482) and Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School (X479) campus. By replacing the formerly asphalt playground with new Green Infrastructure, the campus will now absorb more than 800,000 gallons of stormwater annually, helping to combat flooding in the neighborhood.

“New York City’s infrastructure was designed to function in a climate that we don’t live in anymore, but we are working hard to update it to protect New Yorkers from flooding,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “From rain gardens to porous pavement to green infrastructure playgrounds, we are working faster and smarter to protect New Yorkers from the intense storms we are seeing more frequently than ever before.”

“Parks are essential for the health of all New Yorkers, and this new community space is a key part of our work to close the park equity gap and increase climate resiliency,” said Mary Alice Lee, NYC Playgrounds Program Director for Trust for Public Land. “In addition to serving the entire neighborhood with quality park space, this schoolyard will give students the opportunity to learn and play outdoors, while its green infrastructure features will absorb millions of gallons of stormwater that would otherwise flood our city streets.”

“The introduction of the new Healthy Schools category in our 2025–2029 Capital Plan reflects our dedication to creating environments that support both learning and the overall well-being of students,” said NYC School Construction Authority President and CEO Nina Kubota. “The $60 million allocated in the Capital Plan will provide children with access to outdoor play areas that are crucial for their holistic growth, encouraging physical activity, social engagement, and creative play. We are excited to further our collaboration with TPL as they continue to transform schoolyards into inviting, green spaces that are open to everyone during and after school hours.”

What was once a vacant, asphalt lot is now a vibrant community park with features like a running track, volleyball court, turf soccer field, two full basketball courts, outdoor classroom, gazebo with green roof, and fitness equipment. On the school wall behind the outdoor classroom and fitness equipment are two beautiful murals. The bricks surrounding the trees in the schoolyard are permeable to manage millions of gallons of stormwater to infiltrate and water the trees that provide shade for those using the playground.

The schoolyard will also give quality park access to 47,143 residents within a 10-minute walk of the schools. The schoolyard received funding from public and private sources, including lead private philanthropic funding from the Destina Foundation, VF Foundation, the Long Island Sound Study and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Today’s opening is a testament to the power of community collaboration and investment in our neighborhoods. I am proud to announce that we allocated $926,000 through Congressional Community Project Funding to support this playground. This funding is crucial for enhancing public spaces, promoting physical activity, and improving quality of life for residents across our district. The new green schoolyard at Bronx Latin, Dr. Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School, and Bronx Career and College Prep is a shining example of how we can create vibrant, accessible, and environmentally-responsible spaces that serve our communities and future generations,” stated Congressman Ritchie Torres.

According to research from Trust for Public Land, open access to all U.S. public schoolyards during non-school hours would put a park within a 10-minute walk of more than 19.6 million people, including 5.2 million children, who currently lack access.

Since 1996, TPL’s NYC Playgrounds Program has helped design and build 229 school and community playgrounds across the five boroughs.

DEP’s nation-leading green infrastructure program has constructed more than 14,000 green infrastructure installations including curbside rain gardens, green roofs, subsurface detention, permeable pavers and green medians. All of these green installations intercept stormwater before it can drain into the sewer system, thereby creating additional capacity in the sewers, which helps to reduce flooding and any overflows into local waterways. Over the last 10 years DEP has invested $5.7 billion to upgrade all drainage systems, including sewers, across the city and is planning to invest more than $10 billion for similar upgrades over the next decade.

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 8.5 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 also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $29 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us X, formerly known as Twitter.