Staten Island is set to see significant improvements in storm drainage as elected officials announce a dredging project at Allison Pond in Randall Manor, marking the first such effort since 2003.
City Council discretionary funds amounting to $1.56 million will finance the project, which aims to enhance storm resilience for North Shore residents.
Councilmember Kamillah Hanks, a Democrat representing the North Shore, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This is about more than just a pond. This is about protecting homes, streets, and lives from the kind of persistent and consistent flooding that North Shore residents know all too well.”
Hanks, who contributed $1.3 million to the project, referred to the dredging as a crucial step towards improving flood protection in the area, drawing parallels to the successful Blue Belt initiative on the East Shore.
The current condition of Allison Pond has raised concerns, with invasive phragmites and sediment deposits reducing its depth dramatically—from three feet to as shallow as six inches in certain areas.
Councilmember David Carr, a Republican representing the Mid-Island, also voiced his support for the dredging project, contributing $250,000.
Carr noted, “Preserving our natural infrastructure and protecting Staten Island neighborhoods from worsening storms and climate events is not a partisan issue—it’s a shared priority.
That’s why we need to protect neighborhoods, like Bulls Head with Willowbrook Pond and Randall Manor with enhanced flood mitigation measures.
I’m proud to work with Councilmember Hanks to ensure that the Allison Pond project gets the resources it needs.”
Allison Pond is named after George William Allison, an influential public works engineer in the early 20th century, who oversaw several Works Progress Administration projects throughout Staten Island.
Officials from the City Parks Department have highlighted Allison Pond’s role as an integral part of Harbor Brook, serving as a critical drainage channel leading into the Kill van Kull.
Christopher Travis, president of the Randall Manor Civic Association, expressed gratitude towards the councilmembers for their support, acknowledging the positive impact of the project on the community.
District Attorney Michael McMahon, a nearby resident, also welcomed the dredging initiative, calling it a vital development for the area.
McMahon, who served as the North Shore’s city councilmember during the last dredging of Allison Pond, stated, “A critical component of our North Shore’s waterways, Allison Pond serves as a natural conduit to the cherished creeks and channels of Randall Manor, Goodhue, Snug Harbor and beyond.
Sadly, years of neglect have allowed the pond to fall into disrepair and succumb to pernicious phragmites.
I commend Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks for securing over $1 million in capital funding in this year’s city budget to dredge the pond once again.
Her efforts, along with that of Councilman David Carr, have made it possible that Allison Pond not only survives but thrives, ensuring that future generations of Staten Islanders can enjoy Allison Pond and its neighboring waterways for years to come.”
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image source from：silive
