Did NYC’s coastal green infrastructure protect property during Hurricane Sandy?

The Trust for Public Land’s Climate-Smart Cities™ program helps cities nationwide conserve land and create parks and green infrastructure to meet the climate challenge. One challenge for coastal communities is that of sea level rise, coastal flooding, and storm surge.

The Trust for Public Land partnered with researchers at Drexel University to investigate what role New York City coastal green infrastructure, such as beaches and marshes, played in mitigating building damages during hurricane Sandy in 2012. The study found that green infrastructure helped mitigate Sandy’s destructive forces in some parts of the city. The findings suggest that investments in coastal protection through green infrastructure should be planned strategically, considering local conditions and potential value of natural features.