Boundary Avenue Bluebelt

Boundary Ave. bet. Midland Ave. and Lincoln Ave.

The 5.7-acre Boundary Avenue natural area formerly consisted of a narrow stream flowing through a successional forest that partially developed after demolition of a large building and abandoment of landscaping after the 1950s. In 2024, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection began a dramatic transformation of the site -- constructing a new Bluebelt project to manage stormwater and protect nearby residential communities from inland flooding.

The site was excavated to construct a new 2-acre freshwater wetland to capture and detain stormwater during extreme rain events, which are growing increasingly frequent and intense as New York City's climate changes. The wetland includes a diverse palette of native herbaceous plants suited to various water levels, including swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), bulrush and iris (Iris spp.), as well as shrubs like dogwood (Cornus spp.) and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). Within the remaining 4 acres of mature forest, additional native trees were planted in open areas to supplement natural regeneration, with species inlcuding red oak (Quercus rubra), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), and American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). This natural area serves both as habitat for local wildlife and as flood protection for local residents.