Crown Heights in Brooklyn in Kings County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
1. Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden Marker
This garden, opened in 2016, has a purpose beyond beauty. It's helping to conserve water and protect the city's waterways from pollution. How? It's all about rains and drains.
New York City has a combined sewer system for stormwater and sewage. When everything's working, sewage flows to water treatment plants, and stormwater flows back into our waterways. During heavy rains, the system may be overwhelmed and raw sewage can end up in our rivers and ocean.
Thanks to a built-in weather-monitoring station, the Water Garden anticipates rainfall and lowers its own water level accordingly. This gives the pond extra space to capture stormwater that might otherwise cause overflows. All told, the garden is reducing Brooklyn Botanic Garden's wet-weather burden on the stormwater system from 8 million gallons to only 2.5 million gallons per year!
Erected by Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Natural Resources • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 2016.
Location. 40° 39.889′ N, 73° 57.714′ W. Marker is in Brooklyn, New York, in Kings County. It is in Crown Heights. Marker can be reached
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Place for City Kids to Grow Since 1914 (a few steps from this marker); Children's Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Aquatic Plants for Aquatic Birds (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Children's Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Dasheen (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Benne (about 300 feet away); Living Land Acknowledgement (about 300 feet away); Eddoe (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brooklyn.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
2. Shelby White and Leon Levy Water Garden Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
