Mamdani and Hochul Launch $35.7 Million Flood Mitigation Project in Harlem

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith have officially launched a $35.7 million infrastructure project focused on mitigating flooding in Harlem and East Harlem. The North End Recirculation Project will enhance stormwater management in northern Central Park, thereby reducing the burden on the city’s combined sewer system during heavy rain events.

Expected to be completed by fall 2028, this innovative system aims to divert and filter water among three water bodies in Central Park: the Harlem Meer, the Loch, and the Pool. Once operational, the system is projected to keep approximately 132 million gallons of stormwater out of local sewers annually while conserving an estimated 175 million gallons of drinking water each year.