NYC Parks Cuts Ribbon on Ecological Restoration of Salt Marsh

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, today joined United States Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Paul E. Owen, Bronx Deputy Borough President Aurelia Greene, NY State Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Bronx Community Board 9 District Manager Francisco Gonzalez, and DEP Commissioner Emily Lloyd's Senior Advisor Marianna Koval to cut the ribbon celebrating the completion of the more than $9 million Soundview Park Salt Marsh Restoration Project.

"Salt marshes are ecologically and historically significant to New York City," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "The restoration of the salt marsh at Soundview Park will not only provide a haven for a diversity of wildlife but will also act as a natural filtration system to trap pollutants that could contaminate our bays and oceans. Special thanks to all of our partners at the federal, state, and city levels of government for partnering with us on this important project."

"The successful restoration of the salt marsh wetlands is just one of the many success stories of the revitalization of the entire 205 acre Soundview Park which will provide for improved access and overall increased enjoyment for the entire community," stated Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales. "This restoration will not only result in increased biodiversity, and enhanced quantity and quality of habitat but will also help improve New York City's vital water resources. The State government is pleased to continue to fund these types of transformative projects."

This project was made possible through a cost-sharing partnership of federal, state, and local agencies. Support from Congressman Joseph Crowley and Congressman José E. Serrano helped secure $4.5 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. $2.19 million in funding was provided by a water quality improvement grant under the Clear Water/Clear Air Bond Act from the New York State Department of State, and $2.19 million was provided through the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and the Municipal Water Finance Authority in connection with the construction of the Croton Water Filtration Facility. In addition, over $1 million of mitigation funding was provided by the NYC Department of Sanitation

Soundview Park is a 205 acre park at the mouth of the Bronx River constructed on a former landfill. Approximately 40 acres of the Park was once open water and about 80 acres were part of a vast salt marsh system that developed on outwash material deposited at the mouth of the Bronx River where it entered the East River.

The Soundview Park Salt Marsh Ecological Restoration Project restored approximately 3.5 acres of salt marsh and associated coastal scrub shrub by excavating up to 12 feet of landfill and adding clean material, which returned the area to appropriate salt marsh elevations. This project also restored 13 acres of upland forest and meadow and improved an additional 2 acres of upland.

The goal of the restoration was to restore aquatic ecosystem resources and adjacent upland habitat in southern Soundview Park. This has contributed to improved water quality by increasing the area of functional salt marsh that can remove nutrients from the water column, trap sediment, and provide habitat for wetland dependent fish and wildlife.