Mayor Mamdani Announces $95 Million Cloudburst Project to Manage Flooding in Homecrest, Brooklyn

 

Porous pavement will absorb and divert stormwater, while parks and school sites will store it underground  

  

Project will protect water quality in Coney Island Creek  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamar Samuels today announced $95 million in DEP funding for an innovative Cloudburst stormwater management project in Homecrest, Brooklyn.   

  

The project is designed to reduce flooding, protect local waterways and strengthen neighborhood resilience as extreme weather becomes more frequent and more severe.  

  

Cloudburst projects use a network of neighborhood-scale infrastructure to move stormwater off streets during short, intense storms without overwhelming the sewer system. In Homecrest, DEP will install porous pavement on City streets and underground storage systems on public land, managing an estimated 30 million gallons of stormwater each year. The Homecrest project will be built to handle the increasingly common, heavy downpours that can drop more than two inches of rain in a single hour.  

Typical Cloudburst Infrastructure  

The Homecrest project will relieve pressure on the sewer system during peak rainfall by capturing and storing stormwater before it floods streets or flows untreated into Coney Island Creek. Reducing polluted runoff is essential to protecting water quality and meeting Clean Water Act standards.    

  

“We are building a city that protects New Yorkers in the places where flooding hits hardest,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This project turns everyday public spaces — our schoolyards, streets and parking lots — into infrastructure that keeps our communities safe. As climate change accelerates, investments like this are not optional. They are how we deliver a city that is resilient, equitable and prepared.”   

  

“Climate change is already here, and our infrastructure must catch up. Cloudburst projects rebuild our city with the green infrastructure, like porous pavement and underground stormwater storage, that will keep us safe during storms,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “These investments into stormwater management are increasingly critical, and I am glad to see our agencies working hand in hand to deliver creative solutions to flooding.”   

  

“The Homecrest Cloudburst project is a major step forward in protecting this community from the kind of extreme rainfall we know is becoming more common,” said DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia. “By capturing and storing stormwater before it overwhelms local streets and sewers, we’re reducing flood risk, improving water quality in Coney Island Creek and building the resilient infrastructure New Yorkers deserve.”  

  

The project will target flooding hotspots across a 350-acre area, including Kings Highway, Coney Island Avenue and avenues P, R, S, T, U and V.   

Flooding Hotspots in Homecrest  

In partnership with NYC Parks, NYC DOT and NYCPS, DEP is evaluating traffic triangles, athletic courts, schoolyards and parking lots as sites for underground storage tanks.  

  

“New Yorkers shouldn't have to worry about flooding every time there's intense rain. In addition to making South Brooklyn more resilient to extreme weather and protecting our waterways from pollution, this new Cloudburst system will include upgrades to Homecrest's public spaces that New Yorkers will be able to enjoy, rain or shine,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We're proud to work with DEP and our partners across City government to design Cloudburst systems here and throughout the city.”  

  

“As climate change continues to bring wetter weather to the five boroughs, we must act urgently and collaboratively to construct stormwater management systems in public spaces that will protect future generations from the damages of devastating flooding,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We look forward to working in lockstep with our sister agencies to deliver these critical infrastructure enhancements across the city in the years ahead.”    

  

“Investments like this help keep our communities safe,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels. “I’m grateful to our City partners for coming together and prioritizing what might go unnoticed by many but can have a huge impact should a cloudburst occur. Together, we are building a more resilient future for our Homecrest students and staff.”  

DEP launched its Cloudburst Management Program in 2023, advancing projects in flood-prone neighborhoods across the city, including Parkchester in the Bronx; Brownsville and East New York in Brooklyn; East Harlem in Manhattan; and Corona, Jamaica, Kissena and St. Albans in Queens. DEP continues to seek federal funding to support additional projects.