DEP and Local Greenpoint Officials Break Ground on 'Gateway to Greenpoint,' a $1.9 Million Project to Manage Stormwater and Expand Public Open Space in Brooklyn

October 31, 2025

Underground System Will Capture Nearly One Million Gallons of Stormwater Each Year; Enhance the Area Around the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Council Member Lincoln Restler today broke ground on "Gateway to Greenpoint," a $1.9 million project that blends smart stormwater management with new public open space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

The project site, located on the eastern perimeter of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility, will be transformed into a vibrant community space equipped with underground stormwater storage chambers capable of capturing nearly one million gallons of stormwater annually. This innovative green infrastructure project will reduce street flooding and protect the Newtown Creek by preventing excess stormwater, and any pollutants it sweeps off the streets, from entering the waterway through outfalls.

"This new plaza will soak up nearly a million gallons of rainwater a year, helping to prevent street flooding and keep pollution out of Newtown Creek," said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. "It shows how we can-and must-take every opportunity to integrate stormwater management into public projects, turning even small spaces into powerful tools for climate resilience."

"Greenpoint deserves resilient infrastructure that both protects our environment and strengthens our community," said Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). "This project represents what we can achieve when federal, state, and local partners work together-investing in green solutions that reduce flooding, improve water quality, and expand public spaces for Brooklyn families. I'm proud to have helped secure federal funding to make Gateway to Greenpoint a reality, and I look forward to seeing this space become a model for sustainable, community-driven design."

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said, "My District is a waterfront community that is on the front lines of climate change and sea level rise. Historically, Newtown Creek was the site of so much dumping and pollution that it is still a superfund site to this day. These investments from the DEP in Gateway to Greenpoint will help to repair the harm of decades of divestment and ensure our community has access to the green space it deserves. It will ensure the creek is more resilient and we are more protected from the increasing storms and flooding that we know are coming."

"Gateway to Greenpoint is not only an exciting new public green space, but also a vital piece of green infrastructure that will better equip our community to face the challenges of climate change," said Council Member Lincoln Restler. "By capturing over one million gallons of stormwater each year it will help prevent flooding in our community and protect Newtown Creek from stormwater contamination. This site has long been identified as a space with great potential for our community, and we're proud to have invested $500,000 to help make it a reality. Thank you to the Department of Environmental Protection, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and the Newtown Creek Alliance for their partnership in making this happen."

"In 2018, the Newtown Creek Alliance received a Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund grant for a community-led visioning for the Gateway to Greenpoint lot. After years of collaboration with DEP and elected officials, the project-now featuring major stormwater management elements-is breaking ground," said Willis Elkins, Newtown Creek Alliance Executive Director. "The site will offer vital open space and environmental benefits for local workers, residents, and visiting students. We thank DEP, Council Members Steven Levin and Lincoln Restler, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Evergreen Exchange, Interval Partners, and the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee for their longstanding support."

"Brooklyn Community Board #1 is very excited that this new public open green space will now be realized. We are grateful to DEP for providing a thoughtful design for the Gateway to Greenpoint with strong resiliency features. Now the wastewater resource recovery facility will be further softened with another beautiful accessible natural space that will exist in concert with the Nature Walk," said Steve Chesler, Chair, Environmental Protection Committee, Brooklyn Community Board #1.

Gateway to Greenpoint is a welcome addition to the largely industrial neighborhood, providing passive recreation space, large planting beds with native plant species, shade trees, benches, tables and chairs, and educational signage. The site is an important link from bus and bike routes on Greenpoint Avenue to DEP's Nature Walk, the half-mile public waterfront esplanade along Whale Creek and Newtown Creek, completed in 2021.

Beneath the plaza, DEP will install underground stormwater storage chambers that will capture stormwater from a 53,000-square-foot drainage area on Greenpoint and Kingsland avenues. As stormwater flows over streets and other impervious surfaces, it sweeps up pollutants-such as sediments, oils, pathogens, and road salt-and carries it out into local waterways. These subsurface chambers will intercept the stormwater and slowly release it into the ground below, filtering and cleaning stormwater that would otherwise have discharged directly into Newtown Creek.

Throughout the design process, DEP collaborated with elected officials and local stakeholders to ensure that the project serves the needs of local residents. Additionally, the project supports environmental goals by reducing the urban heat island effect, establishing biodiversity and habitat, and creating opportunities for environmental stewardship.

The cost of the project is $1.9 million, with DEP providing $1.4 million in funds to cover the green infrastructure elements, including a $500,000 federal grant (EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grant Community Project Funding), and an additional $500,000 from Council District 33 for open space amenities. Construction is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

About the NYC Department of Environmental Protection

DEP manages New York City's water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to nearly 10 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP also protects the health and safety of New Yorkers by enforcing the Air and Noise Codes and asbestos rules. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on X.