Earlier this year, New York City committed $95 million to turn Brooklyn parks and courts into stormwater storage. Today, the project can manage nearly 30 million gallons of rainwater a year, easing pressure on sewers and streets

Heavy rainfall can overwhelm urban drainage systems in a matter of minutes, sending large amounts of water into streets, properties, and sewers at the same time. New York City is responding with an approach that gives ordinary public spaces an additional role: helping hold stormwater during intense downpours.

Rather than depending entirely on conventional drainage infrastructure, the city is incorporating stormwater storage into places that residents already use, including basketball courts, parks, patios, and other public areas.

The approach is part of the Cloudburst program, which takes inspiration from projects developed in cities like Copenhagen. Its purpose is to change the way rainwater is managed during mainly heavy storms by capturing some of the water close to where it falls.

How can a basketball court help prevent flooding?

The concept is relatively simple. A specially designed public space can temporarily hold rainwater in the most intense part of a storm. Once the rainfall subsides and the drainage network has more capacity, the stored water can eventually be released.

One solution involves sunken basketball courts. These courts are made at a lower elevation, enabling them to serve as temporary storage areas during heavy rain without losing their daily recreational purpose.

Other places can use porous surfaces in patios and parking areas. These materials enable water to move downward rather than collecting on the surface and immediately flowing toward streets and drains.

The broader method can also include green areas that filter water and large underground reservoirs capable of storing stormwater out of sight.

New York is investing $95 million in Homecrest

The City of New York plans to invest US$95 million in a significant project in Homecrest, Brooklyn, a neighborhood that can experience problems during heavy rainfall.

The project is anticipated to manage nearly 30 million gallons of rainwater per year. By temporarily holding part of the stormwater, the system is intended to minimize the amount of water reaching the sewer network at once and lower the risk of flooding.

The concept is not simply to create new storage spaces. It is to integrate water management into areas that already form part of neighborhood life.

South Jamaica Houses shows how the system can work

New York already has an example of this method at South Jamaica Houses in Queens.

There, a specially designed court can temporarily store around 330,000 gallons of water during a storm, equivalent to approximately 1.25 million liters.

The example illustrates how a recreational area can serve two purposes depending on weather conditions. Under normal circumstances, residents can use the court as they normally would. During a major rainfall event, however, it can become part of the neighborhood's stormwater-management system.

Other places can receive different solutions depending on the space available. Vegetation, permeable surfaces, and underground storage can be combined or adapted to meet the requirements of individual neighborhoods.

What happens after the storm?

The water does not require to remain stored indefinitely.

After the heaviest rainfall has passed and the drainage network has regained capacity, fields and reservoirs can gradually release the water. Some of the stored water may also seep naturally into the ground.

The purpose of this temporary storage is to prevent a huge volume of rainwater from entering the sewer system simultaneously.

By slowing the flow, the pressure on the sewers is minimized, along with the possibility of flooding streets and properties.

Keeping some stormwater out of the drainage system can also help limit contaminated runoff from reaching areas like Coney Island Creek.

Once the water has drained away and the region returns to normal, residents can again use the courts and surrounding public spaces for recreation.

A different way to manage stormwater

New York City's Cloudburst strategy features an approach in which daily neighborhood spaces become part of the city's response to heavy rainfall.

The combination of sunken courts, porous surfaces, green areas, and underground reservoirs allows stormwater to be managed in different ways depending on the characteristics of each location.

The Homecrest investment, together with the existing example at South Jamaica Houses, shows how the concept can connect infrastructure with everyday community life.

Perhaps the most notable feature is that the same space can serve two purposes: it can remain a place for people during normal conditions and temporarily become part of the system protecting them when a major storm arrives.


Source: ECOPORTAL

FAQs:

Q1. What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is designed to help manage heavy rainfall and reduce flooding. It uses public spaces and other infrastructure to temporarily store stormwater.

Q2. What is the Cloudburst program?

Cloudburst is an approach to managing intense rainfall by capturing and storing water. It can use different types of spaces and infrastructure depending on local conditions.