Brooklyn to receive $68M to alleviate flooding to Prospect Park, surrounding areas
The investment is said to help fund a bluebelt that would create space in the park's lake so that drainage will flow into the lake, rather than flowing out of the lake.
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Mayor Eric Adams and the New York Department of Environmental Protection announced a $68 million plan to alleviate flooding to Prospect Park and surrounding neighborhoods.
The investment is said to help fund a bluebelt that would create space in the park's lake so that drainage will flow into the lake, rather than flowing out of the lake.
The City of New York Deputy mayor of operations Jeffery Roth said the investment will help the 158-year-old park for years to come.
"Investments, totaling nearly $70 million, will strengthen the park's natural drainage systems, reduce storm impacts on nearby communities and enhance the park experience for decades to come," shared Roth.
Rohit Aggarwala, commissioner with the Department of Environmental Protection also shared that the bluebelt would be a first for Brooklyn and will also include new rain gardens, restored wetlands and nature-based flood protections that keep homes and streets dry.
"Currently, the way the park was designed, it actually can take us up to three weeks to lower this lake in a significant way. It will enable us to lower lake levels in under 36 hours, greatly increased our storm capacity," said Aggarwala.
"In all of our bluebelts, that water is filtered. So, it will not be just pure runoff from the street that goes into the lake," he continued.
This investment made by the Adams administration comes after a year-long study of flooding and of how stormwater moves through Prospect Park during heavy rain.
The design process with construction is anticipated to start in 2029 and be completed in 2032.
