About
The Spring Creek North Ecosystem Restoration Project will restore more than 43 acres of degraded habitat in Spring Creek Park, along Spring Creek and Ralph’s Creek in northern Jamaica Bay, straddling the NYC Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. After decades of damage caused by dredged material placed in surrounding wetlands, this project is being implemented under the Continuing Authorities Program Section 1135 in partnership with NYC Parks and NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP). After years of planning and design, Federal funds for construction were provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and non-Federal funds from NYC Parks and NYC DEP. The construction contract solicitation was issued September 23, 2024, bid opening was held on January 16, 2025 and H&L Contracting LLC was awarded the construction contract on February 20, 2025. Construction was formally initiated on August 26, 2025.
The project will be accomplished through excavation of uplands, wetland re-contouring, channel improvements, removal of invasive species, and replanting with native plantings. Vegetation removal was initiated on October 1, 2025 following the closure of the migratory bird window (April 1-September 30). Excavation of soils to convert upland to wetlands (Areas D and E) and placement of soils on-site in Upland Placement Areas (A, B and C) are ongoing. Wetland restoration will also occur through Thin Layer Placement methods in Areas F in the Spring 2026 (see figure below).
The restored habitat will provide significant ecological benefits improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and coastal resiliency against coastal storms for the surrounding communities. In addition, the project will also lay the foundation for the future community park by beneficially reusing excavated soil from the project site. Restoration activities will continue through 2026 and will deliver long-term environmental and public benefits to Jamaica Bay and New York City.
Design Phase
A Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) was executed between the New York District and NYC Parks on August 10, 2018 to initiate the Design and Implementation Phase of the project. Field sampling including wetland delineation, topographic/bathymetric surveys, bio-benchmarking survey, tree surveys, hydrodynamic data collection/modeling and utility surveys were completed in 2019-2020. The 30% designs (November 2021), Value Engineering Study (December 2021), geotechnical sampling/supplemental topographic surveys (January 2022) and 60% Plans & Specifications (P&S) were completed in December 2022. The 90% and 100% P&S submittals were completed in May and November 2023, respectively. The 100% P&S were approved in March 2024.
