Nearly 4,000 NYC students planted 100,000 plus beachgrass stalks to rebuild dunes and curb flooding

Nearly 4,000 public school students, more than 200 teachers and hundreds of community members have worked with NWF Nearly 4,000 New York City public school students have taken part in an effort to restore protective dunes at Coney Island Creek Park in Brooklyn. Since 2022, students, teachers and community members have planted more than 100,000 American beachgrass culms across more than 2.25 acres of frontal dunes.The project is part of the Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) programme run by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). According to the organisation, it combines environmental education with habitat restoration and aims to help the local community prepare for flooding and other risks linked to extreme weather.Coney Island’s coastline has faced serious flooding during major storms. Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021 highlighted the risks faced by the area. The RiSC programme was launched in 2017 in seven South Brooklyn public schools, including schools in Coney Island, to help students understand these risks and learn about the environment around them.The programme was also created to address gaps in climate education. At the time, students were receiv...