NYC begins transforming median into green infrastructure installation
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun construction to transform three roadway medians in Arverne into lush, green infrastructure to better manage stormwater and reduce chronic neighborhood flooding.
The new green infrastructure roadway medians will feature large-scale bioretention areas, subsurface stormwater storage, and pedestrian ramp improvements along Beach 67th Street between Almeda and Thursby Avenues. The new medians will be capable of absorbing a significant volume of stormwater and the project is estimated to cost $1.2 million.
“As our climate continues to change and we see rainstorms intensifying across the five boroughs, we must remain dedicated to looking for any and all locations to build green infrastructure,” says Mayor Adams. “Turning this crumbling median into a beautiful, natural sponge will improve both public safety and quality of life for our neighbors in Arverne, Queens. My administration already has the largest, most aggressive green infrastructure program in the country, and New Yorkers can expect to see a lot more of these nature-based solutions in the coming months.”
“Transforming these medians into working green infrastructure elements will reduce any standing water after storms along Beach 67th Street while also augmenting drainage capacity throughout the neighborhood,” says DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “In just the last several years we have constructed more than 11,000 green infrastructure assets that absorb stormwater and beautify neighborhoods, and we will continue to aggressively expand this critical work that is making our city more resilient to the changing climate.”
Work will include the reconstruction of the three current medians and the construction of the Green Infrastructure elements, such as bioretention and detention structures. The landscape work will include the addition of native plants, shrubs, ornamental grasses and perennial wildflowers, which will also help absorb stormwater and enhance the aesthetic value of the surrounding area.
To ensure that stormwater will drain toward the medians, the project includes the reconstruction of the sidewalks and curbs and resurfacing of the roadways. Openings along the curb of the new medians will allow the stormwater to drain into the bioretention and subsurface detention systems.
Additional large concrete medians in Queens, including Queens Village, are slated to be transformed into resilient green infrastructure medians, with additional sites in the planning and design stages.
Over the last several years DEP’s nation-leading green infrastructure program has constructed more than 11,000 green infrastructure installations including curbside rain gardens, green roofs, subsurface detention, permeable pavers, concrete and asphalt, and now green medians have been added to the City’s stormwater management toolbox. All of these green installations intercept stormwater before it can drain into the sewer system, thereby creating additional capacity to help reduce flooding and sewer overflows into local waterways.
