Wagner Park Reopens in Lower Manhattan with Advanced Flood Mitigation Technology

Wagner Park's Resiliency Redesign

• 📌 Wagner Park, located at the southern tip of Battery Park City, is set to reopen after a closure of over two years for a significant resiliency project.
• 💡 The redesign addresses the impact of Superstorm Sandy and the realities of climate change, focusing on meeting future climate resilience needs.

Flood Mitigation and Elevation

• 🌊 The project involved taking the park down to its platform and rebuilding it, elevating the park itself by approximately 20 feet in some areas.
• 🧱 A new barrier system has been integrated into the foundation, featuring flood walls, terrace planting, and raised seating, much of which is not visible to the public.
• 🚪 A system of deployable flip-up gates, designed to blend into the streetscape when in the down position, is part of the flood mitigation strategy.

Community and Infrastructure Protection

• 🏛️ The Museum of Jewish Heritage now features 250 feet of flood and impact-proof glass as part of the resiliency efforts.
• ♻️ Reused pavers salvaged from the original park have been incorporated into the new streetscape, maintaining a sense of familiarity.
• 💬 While the nearly $300 million project faced some community resistance regarding open space preservation, particularly the size of the lawn, the primary goal is protecting tens of thousands of residents and vital infrastructure.
• 📈 Battery Park City Authority President Raju Man emphasizes the necessity of significant investments for planning over the next century.
• ✅ The transformed park aims to return a beloved community space to New York, with the satisfaction of seeing others enjoy it being a key accomplishment.