The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York City Parks signed recently a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for the ecosystem restoration at Spring Creek Park, Brooklyn, New York.
The PPA was signed August 10th on site at Spring Creek by Col. Thomas D. Asbery, Commander of the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mr. Liam Kavanagh, First Deputy Commissioner, NYC Parks.
The signing of the PPA allows USACE to move forward on the design and implementation phase of the ecosystem restoration project.
The ecosystem restoration project will improve the habitat in Spring Creek Park and Jamaica Bay. The Spring Creek area is a 47 acre portion of Spring Creek Park is adjacent to the banks of Spring Creek and Ralph’s Creek, located in northern Jamaica Bay in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City.
Over an 80 year period (1920’s to the present), the salt marsh community at Spring Creek was altered by the dredging and filling activities. Dredge material has been deposited on the marshes surrounding Mill Creek, Spring Creek, Betts Creek, and Ralph’s Creek. Today the majority of Mill Creek and all of Betts Creek are filled or piped.
“ This is another example of the great partnership with New York City Parks to accomplish this important ecosystem restoration project ,” said Col. Asbery .
The project is estimated to cost approximately $12,031,000 with the USACE proportionate cost share projected to be $9,023,000 and the NYC Parks proportionate cost share projected at $3,008,000. An additional $5,517,000 is being provided by NYC Park to restore upland areas adjacent to the NYC Compositing Facility located at the site.