Central Park Project Will Divert 132 Million Gallons of Water From Local Sewers and Conserve 175 Million Gallons of Drinking Water Annually
Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith today announced the groundbreaking of the North End Recirculation Project, a $35.7 million investment to reduce flooding in Harlem and East Harlem while conserving the city’s vital drinking water supply.
The project will modernize stormwater management in northern Central Park and prevent the combined sewer system serving the park and surrounding neighborhoods from becoming overwhelmed during heavy rainfall. The new recirculation system will also reduce the park’s reliance on the city’s drinking water supply to replenish three waterbodies: the Pool, the Loch and the Harlem Meer. The project is expected to be completed in fall 2028.
The project is funded through a combination of State, City and private support, including more than $19.6 million in New York City Capital funding and a $10 million Green Resiliency Grant from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC) funded by the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. The project also includes $2 million from New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, $500,000 from Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, $100,000 from Council Member Gale Brewer and $3.5 million in funding contributed by Central Park Conservancy donors.
“While Washington Republicans continue to deny climate change and cut essential federal disaster funding, we in New York recognize the devastating impacts severe weather is having on our communities,” said Governor Hochul. “I championed New York's Environmental Bond Act because protecting New Yorkers from the growing threats of extreme weather requires us to make smart, forward-looking investments. The North End Recirculation Project will help protect Harlem and East Harlem from flooding, conserve drinking water and preserve Central Park’s iconic landscapes.”
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said, “Climate change is bringing more frequent and severe rainfall to our city. So far this year, we've spent one in three days under a flash flood activation. We are investing in infrastructure that protects New Yorkers during extreme weather while conserving the resources we all depend on. In Central Park, that means turning three beloved water bodies into part of a massive recirculation system that can conserve our drinking water on dry days and protect our neighborhoods from flooding when storms hit. This $35.7 million investment will make our city more resilient, help stretch our water supply further and keep our communities safer.”
City Council Speaker Julie Menin said, “Central Park is one of New York City’s most treasured public spaces and a vital part of our city’s ecosystem. I am proud to allocate $2 million toward this historic project to modernize and expand the city’s largest water circulation system, helping to reduce flooding in Harlem and East Harlem during major storms while strengthening our water infrastructure and bolstering climate resilience. I look forward to continuing the City Council’s strong partnership with the Central Park Conservancy for years to come.”
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Resilience doesn't happen by chance; it takes leadership, investment, and action. This $10 million Green Resiliency Grant is putting that commitment to work in Harlem. By making critical stormwater infrastructure more affordable and achievable, Governor Hochul is reducing flood risk, protecting our waterways, and helping build a stronger, more resilient New York. This is how we turn State investment and partnership with New York City and local governments into real protection for our communities across the state.”
Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Betsy Smith said, “This is the kind of work that most people will never see but is essential to the future of Central Park and its surrounding neighborhoods. The North End Recirculation System is our most ambitious infrastructure project to date. It addresses a fundamental civic challenge: how we manage water more responsibly in one of the City’s most important public spaces. By conserving drinking water, managing stormwater during and after major storms and improving water quality, we are creating a system that will benefit the Park and surrounding communities for generations to come. This project is only possible because of the extraordinary partnership among the Conservancy, the City, the State and our philanthropic supporters.”
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia said, “The North End Recirculation Project is just another example of the smart stormwater management efforts that DEP and our partners are undertaking across the city. By giving Central Park more control over these water bodies, we’re conserving valuable water supply, reducing the volume of stormwater to help mitigate flooding during heavy rains, enhancing water quality and strengthening the park’s ability to prepare for intense storms. DEP is proud to partner with the Central Park Conservancy, NYC Parks and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation on this important project.”
New York City Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura said, “Central Park is not only one of New York City’s most treasured public spaces, but also an important part of our city’s environmental infrastructure. The North End Recirculation Project is an investment that will help protect surrounding neighborhoods from flooding, conserve our drinking water and improve the health of the park’s waterways. This ambitious effort will strengthen Central Park’s resilience to a changing climate while ensuring this vital public space can be enjoyed by generations of New Yorkers to come.”
New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung said, “When communities help lead infrastructure planning, we can build projects that protect New Yorkers and the places they call home from extreme weather. Through Climate Strong Communities, the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice worked with East Harlem residents, WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Community Board 11 to identify how their neighborhood should handle heavy rain. Together with our partners at DEP, NYC Parks and the Central Park Conservancy, we secured a $10 million State investment in the North End Recirculation Project, which, once complete, will mean fewer flooded streets and more drinking water saved.”
The North End Recirculation Project will recirculate and filter water among the Harlem Meer, the Loch and the Pool. During dry weather, water will be diverted from the Meer and pumped south of the Pool before flowing back through the system by gravity. When a major storm is forecast, the system will lower the Meer’s water level in advance, creating capacity to capture incoming rainfall. As the storm arrives, rainwater will naturally refill the Meer and the other waterbodies. Once conditions return to normal, the system will resume its regular recirculation process.
The project is expected to keep approximately 132 million gallons of water out of local sewers annually. The system will manage stormwater across a 204‑acre park watershed in Central Park, reducing stormwater flows to City sewers by 90%.
The recirculation system will also conserve an estimated 175 million gallons of potable water annually by reducing Central Park’s reliance on the City’s drinking water supply, which right now is the primary water source for the Harlem Meer, Loch and the Pool. The project will improve water quality in those three water bodies and reduce harmful algal blooms that thrive during warmer months.
The project has earned support from all five community boards surrounding Central Park. The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed the project as part of its oversight of the park’s designated scenic landmark status and issued an advisory report in support. The NYC Public Design Commission granted final design approval in December 2024.
The system of water bodies in Central Park’s north end is one of the Park’s defining landscape features. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the Pool, Loch and Harlem Meer were constructed as an interconnected water system between 1862 and 1865.
The North End Recirculation System continues the Conservancy’s transformation of the Park’s north end. In 2025, the Conservancy opened the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer, replacing the former Lasker Rink and Pool with a four-season recreation center integrated into the Park’s landscape and re-establishing the historic watercourse running from the Ravine into the Meer. The Conservancy continues to restore the Harlem Meer Shoreline, with the latest section connecting the Davis Center to the Conservatory Garden recently starting construction.
State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “Water management is increasingly important at both the macro and micro levels, including the nine water bodies in Central Park. This project has significant conservation, public health and environmental benefits; thus I fully support it.”
State Senator José M Serrano said, “The North End Recirculation Project is a significant investment in climate resilience, water conservation and stormwater management. As the Senator proudly representing the 29th Senate District, I commend the efforts of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Central Park Conservancy and partnering agencies for advancing this vital infrastructure project in Central Park, which will strengthen water management systems and benefit surrounding communities, including East Harlem. As a proud supporter of the Harlem Meer Shoreline Project, I am encouraged to see these complementary initiatives working toward shared goals of improving water quality, strengthening environmental resilience and ensuring our communities have healthier and more sustainable public spaces.”
City Council Member Yusef Salaam said, “The North End Recirculation Project will conserve water, improve stormwater management and make Central Park and the surrounding neighborhoods of Harlem and East Harlem more resilient to climate change. I commend the Mayor and the Central Park Conservancy on this investment.”