Drainage is a major challenge in Riverside Park. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and expanded under Robert Moses in the mid-1930s, the park’s river-facing slope and 90-year-old infrastructure—plus a paved perimeter that channels street runoff—create heavy surface water, now intensified by extreme storms. Working with Riverside Park Conservancy and the community, NYC Parks secured funding to address these issues.
Following an extensive study and design period, work will target the areas between 108th–116th Streets, where erosion and ponding are most severe. Construction will clean and replace failing infrastructure while adding drainage swales and, new to the park, wet meadows. Three wet meadows will be installed in low spots with permeable sub-drainage and plantings of native grasses and perennials that thrive in intermittent wet conditions. These areas will shift from lawn to resilient habitat, supporting pollinators and other small wildlife.
