The City of New York has announced a $68 million initiative to construct Brooklyn’s first Bluebelt system within Prospect Park, designed to reduce flash flooding through nature-based stormwater management solutions. Led by Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), NYC Parks, and the Prospect Park Alliance (PPA), the project will enhance the park’s lake and wetlands, complementing a $20 million lakeshore restoration effort already underway. The DEP will contribute up to $50 million toward the Bluebelt, with design starting now and construction expected to begin in 2029.
Based on a year-long analysis by DEP, the initiative targets the longstanding issue of stormwater overwhelming Prospect Park’s 60-acre lake and nearby sewer systems during intense rainfall. Planned improvements include upgraded infrastructure to drain the lake faster, newly planted rain gardens and a pond to absorb runoff along West Drive, and a restored historic pond north of the Prospect Park Zoo to intercept water from Flatbush Avenue. These interventions are intended to protect not only the park and zoo but also adjacent neighborhoods that have experienced flooding.
Rendering of West Drive, via nyc.gov.
The Bluebelt will apply strategies first pioneered in Staten Island, where preserving and restoring natural drainage corridors has proven effective in managing stormwater while enhancing local ecosystems. In Prospect Park, the system will be integrated with ongoing lakeshore restoration work by PPA, which includes reshaping the shoreline to its historic design, improving ADA access, and adding stormwater infrastructure and landscaping. Together, the projects will increase the park’s climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
“Brooklyn deserves a climate infrastructure that is as resilient and forward-thinking as the communities it protects,” said New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif. “This investment in Prospect Park’s first-ever Bluebelt is a transformational step toward safeguarding Kensington, Prospect Park South, and Windsor Terrace from the devastating flash floods we’ve seen in recent years. By embracing nature-based solutions and restoring the heart of our borough’s most cherished green space, we’re not only preparing for extreme weather, we’re honoring our responsibility to build a greener, more climate-just future for every Brooklynite.”
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Good to hear.
As wonderful as Central Park is, Prospect Park is just as wonderful in its own way.