4,000 NYC students plant 100,000 beachgrass stalks to protect 50,000 people
NYC public school students are participating in a habitat restoration project at Coney Island Creek Park by planting 100,000 beachgrass stalks. The initiative, part of the Resilient Schools and Communities program, aims to protect the area from flooding and improve climate education.
Why it matters
This project demonstrates a practical approach to climate adaptation and community resilience while addressing gaps in environmental education for urban youth.
Nearly 4,000 New York City public school students have taken part in an effort to restore protective dunes at Coney Island Creek Park in Brooklyn. Since 2022, students, teachers and community members have planted more than 100,000 American beachgrass culms across more than 2.25 acres of frontal dunes.The project is part of the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) programme run by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). According to the organisation, it combines environmental education with habitat restoration and aims to help the local community prepare for flooding and other risks linked to extreme weather.Coney Island’s coastline has faced serious flooding during major storms. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021 highlighted the risks faced by the area.
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