Leaders in Columbia and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation gathered at Morningside Park Friday to celebrate a major partnership to remove toxic algae from the park’s ponds, repair broken water pumps and restore the iconic waterfall. For the first time in seven years (apart from a brief testing period), the waterfall sprang to life, sending streams of water gushing over the rock wall and into the pool below.
The event was launched last year with the goal of leveraging Columbia’s expertise to restore Morningside Park’s waterfall and pond, making New York City’s parks more resilient in the face of climate change. It was part of a project. This project brings together faculty from Columbia University. climate school and Faculty of Engineering Partners from other Columbia schools and community members will also participate. This project aims to address issues affecting Morningside Park’s pond and provide a blueprint for climate change resiliency for public parks in New York City and around the world. The project has a particular focus on protecting the park from the effects of cloudbursts, which have become increasingly common in recent years as a result of climate change.
The Morningside Park pond was built in 1989 in a crater created to make room for the planned Columbia Gymnasium, but the plan was canceled after it sparked a massive student movement. The pond has become a beloved hangout spot for many, but about seven years ago the water pump broke down, creating a breeding ground for algae that grows in the summer heat and poses a danger to pets and children. In areas with stagnant freshwater in and around New York City, these algae problems are worsening with climate change.
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