Overview
This narrow 20- acre park sandwiched between Harlem River Parkway and the Harlem River features porous alternatives to standard hard waterfront infrastructure. Porous sea-walls are composed of stacked greenwalls and flexible gabions, and tide pools and native vegetation are integrated within the parks infrastructure. In addition to providing a more absorbent floodplain, the project also improves public access, creates nearshore and upland habitat, and provides a vehicle for community-based arts and cultural expression.
Lessons Learned
- The cost of porous shores can be about the same as for traditional seawalls.
- Porous waterside infrastructure can reduce negative impacts of urbanized shorelines on rivers.
- Sloped, porous infrastructure can slow the velocity of water, and absorb flood water.
- Native vegetation supports species that use different zones along the river and floodplain.
- Providing safe access to the water’s edge in a highly developed area provides a unique opportunity for public access to the river.
- Different activities such as a multiple purpose bicycle path, kayaking, relaxing, education, and artistic expression can be accommodated in the same space.
- Ecological and community improvements are mutually attainable and beneficial.
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