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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Maintenance challenges for green infrastructure in New York City
0:17:33
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69 sec
Deputy Commissioner Licata addresses the critical challenges in maintaining green infrastructure, particularly rain gardens, in New York City. The department strives to keep rain gardens healthy and performing by conducting regular visits every four to six weeks.
- High pedestrian traffic areas tend to accumulate more litter in rain gardens, requiring more frequent maintenance.
- A data-driven approach is used for maintenance crew deployment and routing.
- Balancing litter control with other essential maintenance tasks like soil enhancement and tree pruning is a significant challenge.
Angela Licata
0:17:33
As we have spoken before about maintaining green infrastructure, we know that it is critical, and it can also be a challenge.
0:17:41
We strive to keep our rain gardens healthy and performing by visiting them every four to six weeks.
0:17:47
Rain gardens are designed so that water flows into them.
0:17:51
If there is litter on the street, that water can bring litter into the garden.
0:17:56
As you might imagine, high pedestrian traffic areas tend to accumulate litter in the rain gardens as well.
0:18:02
We use a data driven approach to maintenance crew deployment and routing, Where our inspection data shows high need areas, we send crews more frequently, and where the data shows less need, we deploy crews less frequently.
0:18:17
We also supplement litter control with a borough based contractor support contract.
0:18:24
More time spent on litter control means less crew time available for other work like soil enhancement, tree pruning, plantings, and horticultural services that are important for maintenance staff, recruitment, job satisfaction, training advancement, and of course the health of the rain garden.