To Combat Flooding, NYC Department of Environmental Protection Joins Trust for Public Land to Open new Green Infrastructure Playground in the Bronx

October 25, 2024

New Playground will Absorb 2 Million Gallons of Stormwater Annually, Helping to Reduce Flooding, Backups into Homes and Businesses, and Polluted Overflows into the East River and New York Harbor; Photos Available Here

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today joined with the Trust for Public Land (TPL), Congressman Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez, staff, students, and others to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Green Infrastructure playground at P.S. 306/M.S. 331 in Morris Heights, The Bronx. By replacing the formerly asphalt playground with new green infrastructure, the new schoolyard will absorb 2 million gallons of stormwater annually, helping to combat flooding in the area and reduce pollution in the East River and New York Harbor.

DEP provided $1.5 million in funding for the new playground, which was designed by students and staff. It features a full basketball court, a volleyball court, an outdoor classroom, game tables, a gazebo, play equipment for younger children, fitness equipment for older students and community members, benches, a running track, a turf field for soccer and football.

"DEP is proud to partner with The Trust for Public Land on Green Infrastructure playgrounds like the one at P.S. 306/M.S. 331," said New York City Chief Climate Officer and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. "These revitalized playgrounds play an important role in our multipronged approach to address climate change and reduce flooding around the five boroughs. I'd also like to thank Congressman Torres, Borough President Gibson, and Council Member Sanchez for their leadership, and all the students who helped design the new space."

The old playground had been plagued with sinkholes that would flood during rainstorms. The new playground features green infrastructure elements such as shade trees, plantings, permeable pavers, and a synthetic turf field that allow the playground to capture 2 million gallons of rainwater a year. These features will better manage stormwater runoff that can flood streets and overwhelm sewer systems, as well as reduce sewer overflows and protect the Harlem River watershed.

"Thanks to the dedicated efforts from students and community members to design this space, this newly redesigned schoolyard will open new doors for students and create a healthier, more resilient neighborhood for all," said Tamar Renaud, New York State Director for Trust for Public Land.

"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," said U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres. "This funding is crucial for enhancing public spaces, promoting physical activity, and improving quality of life for residents across our district."

"School playgrounds are essential for the health and well-being of our communities. That's why the SCA has committed $60 million in our 2025-2029 Capital Plan to ensure children have safe spaces for physical activity, social development, and creativity, all of which are crucial for their growth and development," said School Construction Authority President and CEO Nina Kubota. "Playgrounds not only support students but also serve as vital community resources, making them a valuable investment in the physical, emotional, and social well-being of this entire Bronx community."

Since 1996, TPL's NYC Playgrounds Program has helped design and build 232 school and community playgrounds across the five boroughs. With urgency, TPL is leading the movement to transform asphalt school grounds into vital green infrastructure through advocacy, policy change, research, resource sharing and by creating and evaluating important projects like the schoolyard at P.S. 306/M.S. 331 in The Bronx.

DEP's nation-leading green infrastructure program has constructed nearly 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.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

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 on X, formerly known as Twitter.