Central Park is adapting to the impacts of climate change, including heavier downpours, flooding, and prolonged heatwaves. The Central Park Conservancy is experimenting with climate-adapted plant varieties, expanding on-site composting to retain nutrients, replacing fossil-fuel-powered machinery with electric alternatives, and installing underground infrastructure to conserve water. The park’s temperature is approximately 5°C cooler than the surrounding streets.
These long-term green infrastructure investments demonstrate how urban parks can help cities adapt to a changing climate. As urbanisation accelerates globally, Central Park’s approach offers valuable lessons on using nature-based solutions and sustainable infrastructure to improve urban resilience.
Reference: United Nations