Hunter’s Point South Constructed Wetlands

Quick Facts:

• Total Acreage: 37.5 acres
• Tidal Wetland Mitigation Acreage: 1 acre
• Project Partners: SWA/Balsley, Arup
• Resiliency: Sea-level rise

Project Summary:

Great Ecology served as the ecological consultant on the Arup and SWA/Balsley team for Phase II of the Hunter’s Point South Infrastructure and Waterfront Park Project. Commissioned by the NYC Economic Development Corporation, the project is part of the masterplan to revitalize the 37.5-acre former industrial site along the East River.

In support of Phase II, Great Ecology designed the ~1 acre tidal wetland mitigation and habitat creation as well as provided extensive permitting support, including a Wetlands Functional Analysis. Great Ecology staff conducted an Evaluation of Planned Wetlands (EPW) to quantify the wetland functional capacity of the pre-existing wetlands onsite. The EPW informed design modifications to enhance ecological function and uplift of the proposed wetlands, resulting in a reduced amount of compensatory acreage required by the USACE. Another key component of our design recommendations included adjustments for sea level rise to ensure long-term success. The complex project required extensive coordination between stakeholders and city, state, and federal agencies including the NYC Department of Transportation, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

News Articles:

• "On the Resilient Waterfront" - Helen Stapinski, The New York Times
• "The Thin Green Line" - Jonathan Lerner, Landscape Architecture Magazine
• “The Climate-Resilient Hunter’s Point South Park in New York” – Danny Sinopoli, Azure Magazine
• “New Queens Park Restores Wetlands that Double as Resiliency Infrastructure, Hunter’s Point South” – Zachary Edelson, Metropolis Magazine
• “This Public Park is a Model for Urban Design in the Age of Climate Crisis, Hunter’s Point South” – Evan Nicole Brown, Fast Company

Awards:

• 2020 AIA Award - Regional & Urban Design, Hunters Point South
• 2020 Green Good Design Award - Architecture, Hunters Point South
• 2019 ASLA General Design Honor Award, Hunters Point South
• 2019 MASterworks - Best Urban Landscape, Hunters Point South

More About the Park: