NEW YORK: New York City is replacing sections of concrete road medians with green infrastructure to help manage stormwater and reduce the risk of urban flooding.
Crews are removing parts of paved medians in Whitestone, Forest Hills and Queens Village in Queens and replacing them with grasses, shrubs and wildflowers. The planted areas are designed to capture and absorb rainwater where it falls.
The $8.4 million project is expected to capture nearly 5 million gallons of stormwater each year. Instead of quickly running across roads and entering the sewer system, some of the rainfall will be held and absorbed by the newly planted areas.
The project is part of New York City’s wider use of green infrastructure to reduce the amount of stormwater entering drainage systems during heavy rainfall.
Green infrastructure can also help filter pollutants from stormwater before runoff reaches local waterways, supporting water-quality efforts for areas including the East River, Flushing Bay and Jamaica Bay.
The project shows how small changes in densely populated urban areas can support climate resilience. A landscaped road median can help slow rainfall, reduce pressure on drainage systems and add more vegetation to the city.
Source: NYC Department of Environmental Protection
