Three Queens medians to become green ‘sponges’ to help curb flooding
Credit: NYC Mayor’s Office
Several concrete roadway medians throughout Queens are being transformed into green infrastructure “sponges” designed to reduce flooding. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced an $8.4 million investment that will turn medians in Whitestone, Forest Hills, and Queens Village into landscaped green spaces. Together, the green medians will capture an estimated five million gallons of stormwater each year, reducing strain on sewer systems and improving water quality in the East River, Flushing Bay, and Jamaica Bay.
The project will begin by removing the existing concrete medians and curbs, along with any overgrown or dead trees, weeds, and accumulated debris. New inlet openings will then be installed to divert stormwater from the streets directly into the planted areas.
Landscaping will turn the medians into green corridors filled with native shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. The upgrades will help cool the streetscape while improving flood protection for surrounding neighborhoods.
The project will also improve the appearance of the surrounding streets while adding pedestrian safety features, including ADA-compliant ramps and detectable warning surfaces.
Construction on the medians along Francis Lewis Boulevard in Whitestone is already nearly complete. Stretching 1,105 feet between 20th Avenue and 21st Road, the medians capture runoff from a 1.17-acre drainage area. They will manage 1.11 million gallons of stormwater annually, reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the East River.
In Forest Hills, the medians on Union Turnpike between Metropolitan Avenue and 71st Road will be planted this fall. The 3,245-foot medians will serve a 2.56-acre drainage area and capture 2.43 million gallons of stormwater annually, relieving pressure on the sewer system and reducing CSOs into Flushing Bay.
Along Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village, between Lucas Street and Merrick Boulevard, crews will begin construction on the new medians later this year. The project will add 1,182 feet of green infrastructure serving a 1.51-acre drainage area. These improvements will capture 1.44 million gallons of stormwater annually and reduce CSOs into Jamaica Bay.
“Climate change is bringing more intense and unpredictable bursts of rain, and without action, those storms will continue to overwhelm NYC’s sewer system,” Mamdani said. “This $8.4 million green median project meets that challenge with infrastructure that works for our environment and our neighborhoods.”
“By planting native species and wildflowers above an underground stormwater storage network, we will capture five million gallons of stormwater each year, easing pressure on our sewer system and keeping New Yorkers safe,” he added.
The projects will receive $5 million in state grants through the Green Innovation Grant Program, administered by the Environmental Facilities Corp., and the Water Quality Improvement Project, managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
“By trading hard concrete for living landscapes, we are not just managing stormwater but reimagining what our streets can be,” Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia said.
“These expansive medians will become vibrant green corridors that soak up millions of gallons of stormwater each year,” she added. “This is how we transform everyday spaces into innovative flooding solutions that both protect communities and beautify neighborhoods.”
RELATED:
