Plan to cut culverts in historic Ridgewood Reservoir
has local activists fearful it will lead to development
of the natural oasis
Parks Department says it is mandated to do the work to stave off flooding
and that it will cause minimal damage to the area. But local activists don't
trust city and state officials to safeguard the defunct reservoir which has
turned into natural preserve.
BY LISA L. COLANGELO
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, June 4, 2014, 2:00 AM
The defunct Ridgewood Reservoir at Highland Park is a natural oasis on the Queens-Brooklyn border. Some local activists are worried that a state-mandated plan to dig out culverts in the reservoir will destroy the natural beauty of the area. Parks officials said it is necessary to stave off flooding but some activists disagree.
DANIEL AVILA/NYC PARKS DEPARTMENT/ PHOTO BY D
The defunct Ridgewood Reservoir at Highland Park is a natural oasis on the Queens-Brooklyn border.
Some local activists are worried that a state-mandated plan to dig out culverts in the reservoir will destroy
the natural beauty of the area. Parks officials said it is necessary to stave off flooding but some activists disagree.
Local activists are fuming over a city plan to cut culverts into the historic Ridgewood Reservoir in order to stave off the
threat of future flooding.
They say the $6 million plan — currently awaiting state environmental approvals — is unnecessary and wasteful of money.
“It would have to rain 24 hours a day for months to reach capacity,” said Geoffrey Croft of New York City Park Advocates.
Critics also worry the project will disturb the ecosystems in the defunct reservoir.
“Construction will destroy the natural habitats within the basins, not to mention that it is also a colossal waste of taxpayer money,”
said local civic activist Christina Wilkinson said. “Furthermore, if this weather event actually were to occur, allowing the basins to drain into a
small catch basin on Vermont Place would be pointless as the sewer system would already be overflowing.”
But the Parks Department said it will face fines by the state if the work is not done, since the reservoir is considered a flooding hazard.
Exported.;
Back in 2004, Mayor Bloomberg announced the defunct Ridgewood Reservoir would be transferred
from the city Department of Environmental Protection to the city Parks Department. A plan to develop
the site never materialized and local activists want to keep the area a wild sanctuary.
The only other solution that would satisfy the state — which would involve extensive tree removal and ongoing
maintenance — is more costly and intrusive, parks officials said.
The reservoir, located on the Brooklyn-Queens border, was built in 1858. It supplied water to Brooklyn until 1959.
Former Mayor Bloomberg announced 10 years ago that the site would be transferred from the city Department of
Environmental Protection to the Parks Department as parkland.
The Bloomberg Administration originally pegged the reservoir and surrounding Highland Park for renovations.
But the $50 million proposal to clear out 20 acres for ballfields and develop the area for recreation died for lack of funds.
The Ridgewood Reservoir is home to birds and other wildlife. Some local activists are worried about a plan that will dig culverts into the reservoir in order to hold off potential flooding. They say its unnecessary but the state is requiring the Parks Department to do the work.
MAISEL, TODD,, NY DAILY NEWS
The Ridgewood Reservoir is home to birds and other wildlife. Some local activists are worried about a
plan that will dig culverts into the reservoir in order to hold off potential flooding. They say it’s unnecessary
but the state is requiring the Parks Department to do the work.
The city did complete a smaller project to repair pathways and lighting around the reservoir, and make the areas more handicapped accessible.
Agency officials said the flood prevention project would not change the condition of the reservoir or reduce public access.
But concerned citizens worried that the culverts could pave the way for future development.
“It is my firm belief that (the Parks Department) crying crocodile tears when they say that they’d rather not breach the basins but are being forced
to by the DEC,” said Rob Jett, who founded the Save the Ridgewood Reservoir website.
He and others worry that the city will revive old plans to clear parts of the reservoir to build the ballfields.
lcolangelo@nydailynews.com
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