There’s more to a new structure in Lower Manhattan than meets the eye. If you take a stroll through the newly reopened Wagner Park and The Battery, you will likely notice a beautiful new stone wall.
However, this structure is designed as a critical line of defense against future flooding.
It looks like a simple landscape feature, but it is actually part of a massive effort to protect Lower Manhattan from storm surges and rising sea levels.
A lawn with a secret purpose
According to PIX 11, neighborhood residents are thrilled to have the space back after years of construction. People are already using the waterfront to watch the sunrise and relax on the grass.
But that pristine lawn serves a dual purpose. It actively functions as a stormwater collection basin.
When severe weather threatens the area, the wall itself becomes a flood barrier. There are mechanical gates built into the sidewalks that can be raised and locked into place to block incoming water.
“It feels like it’s part of the park,” said Raju Mann, president and CEO of the Battery Park City Authority. “If there’s a heavy storm event that pushes water in, the gate will flip up and lock in place and will protect the neighborhood.”
Protecting the waterfront
This project is just one piece of a multi-billion-dollar effort to strengthen flood protection across Lower Manhattan.
As part of the upgrades, Wagner Park was elevated approximately 10 feet. This creates a beautiful recreational destination while shielding the neighborhood from heavy storm surges.
The project also brings a much-needed perk for cyclists. It includes a new bike path connection that finally fills a missing link between Lower Manhattan and Manhattan’s West Side.
What comes next for the area
These improvements were largely inspired by the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Back then, floodwaters heavily inundated the nearby Battery Park Underpass, which has since received its own protective flood doors.
While the newly completed wall at Wagner Park stretches less than half a mile, more protection is on the way. The Battery Park City Authority is prepping for the next phase of construction just north of the park.
This upcoming project will create a different type of flood barrier along a roughly two-mile section of the neighborhood’s esplanade. It is expected to take about four years to complete.
Officials hope these connected projects from Tribeca to the East River will create a continuous, resilient barrier against future coastal storms.
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