New Green Playground in Harlem

Learn more at TheCityLife.org

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
New playground will absorb 750,000 gallons of storm water
annually, helping to reduce flooding and polluted overflows
into the East River and New YorkHarbor.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, DEP
joined with the Trust for PublicLand, TPL staff, students and

(00:20):
others to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Green
Infrastructure playground at 92 M Mary McLeod Bethune School,
St. Hope Leadership Academy Charter
School, Democracy Prep Charter High School in Harlem.
The new schoolyard replaces a formerly asphalt playground with
new green infrastructure and will absorb 750,000 gallons of

(00:43):
storm water annually. This will help combat flooding
in the area and reduce pollutionin the East River and New York
Harbor. DEP reviewed the design of the
new playground, which was created by students and staff.
It features a synthetic turf field and a running track.
New play equipment for children,picnic tables and outdoor

(01:06):
classroom and raised planting beds.
It will also collect more than 750,000 gallons of storm water
each year while reducing heat and contributing to a healthier
urban environment. Since 1996, TP LS NYC
Playgrounds Program has helped design and build 235 school and

(01:28):
community playgrounds across thefive boroughs with urgency.
TPL is leading the movement to transform asphalt school grounds
into vital green infrastructure through advocacy, policy change,
research, resource sharing and by creating and evaluating
important projects like the Forest Ave.
Campus schoolyard in the Bronx. DEPS Nation Leading Green

(01:53):
Infrastructure Program has constructed nearly 16,000 green
infrastructure installations, including curbside rain gardens,
green roofs, subsurface detention, permeable pavers, and
green medians. All of these green installations
intercept storm water before it can drain into the sewer system,

(02:14):
thereby creating additional capacity in the sewers, which
helps to reduce flooding and anyoverflows into local waterways.
About Trust for Public Land Trust for Public Land TPL is a
national non profit that works to connect everyone to the
benefits and joys of the outdoors.
As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with

(02:38):
communities to create parks and protect public land where they
are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected
more than 4,000,000 acres of public land, created more than
5420 parks, trails, schoolyards and iconic outdoor places,

(02:58):
raised 94 billion in public funding for parks and public
lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors.
To learn more, visit tpl.org. About the NYC Department of
Environmental Protection DEP manages New York City S water

(03:19):
supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high
quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents,
including 8.3 million in New York City.
The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than
125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and

(03:40):
three controlled lakes. Approximately 7000 miles of
water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes
and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7500 miles of
sewer lines and 96 pump stationstake wastewater to 14 in city
treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and

(04:02):
safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the air and noise
codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit
nyc.gov DEP, Like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.