Project Description
To compensate for injuries to natural resources caused by the Exxon Bayway oil spill, the NY/NJ Harbor Oil Spill Restoration Committee transferred $500,000 to the City of New York to acquire the Garson property in the northwestern corner of Staten Island. At approximately 3 acres, the Garson property contains a complex of diverse habitats, including tidal marshes, freshwater emergent wetlands, and forested swamps. The property is located in the Graniteville Swamp, an urban wetland that serves as the headwaters of Old Place Creek and is also hydrologically connected to Goethals Pond. The Graniteville Swamp serves many ecological functions including providing foraging habitat for migratory birds such as the "Harbor Herons", recharging groundwater, storing storm water to prevent flooding, filtering runoff, and maintaining the water quality in Old Place Creek and Goethals Pond. With the property protected in perpetuity, it was transferred to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) and added to Graniteville Swamp Park.
Parties Implementing Restoration
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
DOI Project Representatives
Fish and Wildlife Service