Central Park is adapting to climate change while helping New York stay cool

New York’s Central Park – one of the world’s most famous landmarks – is experiencing heavy rains, flooding and soil erosion, while a prolonged heat wave is putting pressure on the ecosystem and visitors alike.

But these parks also help New York beat the heat. It helps cool cities, cleans the air, collects rainwater, and gives people a place to escape the heat under the trees. Temperatures in the park can be about 5°Celsius (10°F) lower than the surrounding streets, according to the Central Park Climate Lab.

“Central Park and city parks are more than just recreational spaces,” said Yanina Kupava, Director of the Central Park Conservancy. “This is important urban green infrastructure.”

UN News visited Central Park on a hot summer day, just weeks before world leaders gathered at UN Headquarters for the General Assembly’s General Debate.

As politicians and experts discuss how cities can adapt to global warming, some of the solutions can already be seen in nearby regions.

Plants for new climates

If the main challenge in the 1980s was restoring national parks – which had been neglected for years after the fiscal crisis of the 1970s – today the priority is preserving their historic landscapes in the face of climate change.

The park’s famous crabapple alleys, for example, have become one of the most spectacular sights in spring, when the tree branches bloom in white, pink, and purple blooms. Park staff say the atmosphere is so romantic that the number of proposals there is “wild.”

But a winter that is too warm can cause apple trees to not bloom at all, while warm weather in February can cause magnolias and cherry trees to bloom too early.

“If they bloom too early then a late frost can have a detrimental effect on the trees,” explains Ms. Kupava. “And if the winters are milder, the trees may have difficulty flowering and pollinating.”

Being located in the middle of a metropolitan city puts additional pressure on the plants and wildlife in this park. New York, like other dense urban areas, is warming more quickly and retaining the heat longer than surrounding suburban and rural areas.

The Central Park Conservancy, the agency in charge of maintaining the park, looked for plant varieties that might be better able to adapt to the new climate and experimented with plants from different climate zones.

The challenge was a tricky one: adapting a landscape built in the 19th century to 21st century conditions without letting Central Park lose the character for which it is known throughout the world.

‘Not a single leaf is wasted’

At a work site in the northern part of the park, piles of leaves, weeds and other plant material – including food scraps from staff facilities – are now being turned into compost.

It is used to give plants the strength to cope with changing climatic conditions. It is also used to enrich garden soil, helping to restore heavily used lawns and reducing surface runoff during heavy rains.

“We want all this wonderful material to stay in the garden so the nutrients can be returned to the soil,” Ms Kupava said.

The Conservancy is now planning to expand its site so that even more material can be processed – so that as much as possible does not end up in landfill.

Saving every drop

Water conservation is another priority.

The new underground infrastructure will allow water to circulate between water bodies in the northern part of Central Park, eliminating the need to continually pipe drinking water into the system.

“It won’t be something visible to the public, but the water savings for the city will be huge,” Ms. Kupava said.

At the same time, TNCs are gradually replacing gasoline and diesel engines with electric engines, ranging from smaller power tools to larger lawn mowers, tractors and even trash compactors. Functioning equipment is not simply thrown away, but electrical alternatives are also considered because machines need to be replaced and suitable technology is available.

A lesson for cities everywhere

Although TNC’s work centers on one park, its story offers lessons that extend far beyond New York.

More than half of the world’s population already lives in cities, and by 2050 that figure is expected to approach 70 percent. As temperatures rise and the risk of flooding increases, urban green spaces become increasingly important.

“I think what other cities can take away is that long-term investment in green infrastructure is really important. This really helps cities to have a better environment in everyday life, but also helps them prepare for climate and environmental changes in the future,” Ms Kupava said.