"Battery Park City and the Authority are not just about the buildings – it’s about the character of the community that has developed over time. Public space has had a new renaissance in New York City, but here in Battery Park City is where it started."
Climate Week is a week of action! Climate Week NYC 2021, which runs from September 20-26, brings together international leaders from business, government, and civil society to showcase the ever-increasing momentum of global climate action. Here in Battery Park City, we demonstrate our dedication to our climate every day through a variety of initiatives.
One year ago we launched Battery Park City’s ten-year Sustainability Plan. Developed in consultation with a broad range of residential, local, and governmental stakeholders, the Plan provides the framework for developing and implementing a carbon neutral Battery Park City by the middle of the century, in keeping with the mandate set forth in New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The BPC Sustainability Plan is centered around four “Topic Areas” (Energy, Water, Materials & Waste, and Site), which are further broken down into broad aspirations and discrete methods for achievement that chart a course toward making Battery Park City a sustainability model. Today we’re highlighting the “Water” topic area of the Authority’s work.
Mitigating the risks of flooding associated with sea level rise and storm surge from major climate events, like Superstorm Sandy, is the main focus of Battery Park City’s three interrelated resiliency infrastructure projects.
Managing stormwater resulting from “everyday storms” is also a vital consideration, and to that end inland stormwater drainage measures are also being incorporated into the Authority’s resiliency projects to address flooding concerns.
Stormwater management best practices include maximizing permeable surfaces and detaining and treating stormwater with green or grey infrastructure (typical systems, usually made of concrete). With increased permeability and green stormwater infrastructure, Battery Park City can improve stormwater management and reduce the potential for localized flooding.
Our 2030 Target
As set forth in the BPC Sustainability Plan, by 2030 Battery Park City will have completed all resiliency infrastructure projects described above, and made nearly half of the neighborhood’s parks and public spaces permeable. This includes a pilot project to test permeable pavement options beginning in 2022.
