Queens Green Infrastructure Project To Capture 5M Gallons Of Stormwater Annually

QUEENS, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced an $8.4 million investment in flood-resiliency infrastructure that will transform concrete roadway medians in Whitestone, Forest Hills and Queens Village into landscaped green infrastructure designed to absorb stormwater.

The three projects are expected to capture about 5 million gallons of stormwater each year, reducing pressure on New York City's sewer system and helping prevent combined sewer overflows into the East River, Flushing Bay and Jamaica Bay.

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The work is supported by $5 million in New York State grants, including funding through the Environmental Facilities Corporation's Green Innovation Grant Program and the Department of Environmental Conservation's Water Quality Improvement Project.

The projects will replace aging concrete medians with engineered soils, underground stormwater storage systems and new drainage inlets. Native plants, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers will create green corridors intended to reduce flooding, cool streets and improve neighborhood aesthetics. The upgrades will also include ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps and detectable warning surfaces.

Project breakdown

• Whitestone: Medians along Francis Lewis Boulevard between 20th Avenue and 21st Road are nearing completion. The 1,105-foot project will capture an estimated 1.11 million gallons of stormwater annually and reduce combined sewer overflows into the East River.
• Forest Hills: Medians along Union Turnpike between Metropolitan Avenue and 71st Road are scheduled for planting this fall. The 3,245-foot project is designed to manage 2.43 million gallons annually, helping reduce overflows into Flushing Bay.
• Queens Village: Work on Springfield Boulevard between Lucas Street and Merrick Boulevard is expected to begin later this year. The 1,182-foot project will manage approximately 1.44 million gallons annually and help limit overflows into Jamaica Bay.

Officials described the initiative as an example of using nature-based infrastructure to address increasingly intense rainfall and strengthen neighborhood flood protection while making city streets greener.