STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Councilmember Kamillah Hanks announced this week that funding has been secured for the long-awaited dredging of Allison Pond Park in Randall Manor, a project aimed at improving flood protection and restoring the park’s ecosystem.
Hanks, a Democrat representing the North Shore, secured $1.31 million for the project, with Councilmember David Carr, a Republican representing the Mid-Island, contributing an additional $250,000, bringing the total to $1.5 million.
The project is the first dredging effort at Allison Pond Park since 2003 and is intended to reduce chronic flooding while restoring the pond’s ecological function.
Councilmember Kamillah Hanks speaks at Allison Pond Park in Randall Manor during a Nov. 3 announcement for full funding for the $1.56 million dredging project.Courtesy of Michael Arvanites
“Allison Pond Park is the lynchpin of the North Shore Blue Belt, channeling stormwater to the Kill Van Kull,” said Hanks. “This project is about this beautiful park and neighborhood, yet it’s also about safeguarding homes from the recurring flooding North Shore communities see with greater frequency, including last week.”
NYC Parks Borough Commissioner Joseph Homsey pictured speaking at Allison Pond Park during a Nov. 3 announcement of full funding for the park’s $1.56 million dredging project.Courtesy of Michael Arvanites
City Parks Borough Commissioner Joseph Homsey praised Allison Pond Park for its trails, pond, and ecological resources. He also expressed his appreciation for the upcoming dredging project, saying it will “restore the pond and ensure that the community can continue to enjoy this healthy and vibrant park for generations to come.”
Carr said the dredging project will help protect Staten Island’s natural infrastructure and provide reliable flood mitigation for local communities.
“Climate impacts aren’t partisan; they affect us all,” he added.
The previous dredging of Allison Pond Park took place in 2003 and was led by then Councilmember and current District Attorney Michael McMahon, a longtime Randall Manor resident. Since then, invasive phragmites and silt buildup have severely reduced the pond’s depth, limiting its ability to manage stormwater runoff, officials said.
McMahon applauded Hanks for securing funding to restore the pond. He said her leadership “ensures Allison Pond Park will continue to serve our neighborhoods for decades to come.”
Once the project is finished, Allison Pond Park will remain a key part of the city’s drainage system, helping manage stormwater throughout the North Shore Blue Belt and decreasing chronic flooding in nearby neighborhoods.