About the Document
NYC Parks presents Design and Planning for Flood Resiliency: Guidelines for NYC Parks, an interdisciplinary manual developed by NYC Parks and released in November 2017. It provides guidance for developing and renovating coastally resilient waterfront parks.
Key Contents
- Draws on NYC Parks' decades of waterfront park planning and design, lessons learned after Hurricane Sandy, and climate change projections.
- Defines technical terms, provides checklists for waterfront park planning and design, and examines different park types with best practices for each.
- Suggests plants, materials, and design details suited to coastal conditions, and lists additional resources.
- Encourages a contextual, site-by-site approach, since every site has its own conditions, needs, and risk factors.
Approach and Goals
The Guidelines argue that resilient parks should account for "the norm, not the storm," facilitating everyday public use while including elements meant to face risk. At a minimum, they aim to provide access and a high-quality park experience, recover quickly from both small and large storms, and be designed with risks in mind. Where appropriate and feasible, parks can also bolster urban ecosystems, adapt edges for sea level rise, and aid community-scale coastal resiliency.
Who It Is For and Why It Matters for Waterfront Park Design
NYC Parks hopes the Guidelines will help its readers make well-informed decisions when developing or renovating waterfront parks for flood resiliency throughout New York City and beyond. The document is also offered as a reference for other planners, designers, consultant firms, agencies, communities, and homeowners.