Connecting Community and Ecology: Part 2

by Michaela Loughran with Marina Kiriakou

Mamaroneck’s Greenway Project Unveils New Pocket Parks

In a previous article (see HERE) readers were introduced to the Mamaroneck Greenway Project — a transformative initiative to enhance flood mitigation and ecological restoration in the Village of Mamaroneck.  This project forms a critical component of a two-pronged approach to flood management, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida’s devastation in 2021.  In Part 2 of our series, we explore how this initiative connects to the broader vision of climate resilience — and highlight the creation of two vibrant riverside “pocket parks” that are already making a difference for community life and local ecosystems.

Transforming Overlooked Spaces

At its heart, the Greenway Project envisions a network of green spaces along the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Rivers.  These small parks — often overlooked parcels of land — are being thoughtfully restored as places that support biodiversity and connection.  The initiative is not only mitigating future flood risk but also deepening community appreciation for Mamaroneck’s natural waterways.

Key Developments: Rockland Pocket Preserve Park

The transformation is already visible in two key spaces: Rockland Pocket Preserve Park and Nostrand-Howard Riverside Park.  The Rockland Pocket, once an overgrown and neglected area in an industrial zone between two bridges, has undergone a dramatic revival.  When Kate Dehais, Chairperson of the Village’s Committee for the Environment (CFTE), discovered the site, it was dominated by invasive plants like Japanese knotweed and mugwort, and full of junk, broken glass, and construction debris, yet Dehais immediately recognized the land’s potential. “At that point, you couldn’t even see the river,” she recalls.  “I took a friend down who had lived in Mamaroneck for 20 years and never realized there was a river right there.  She was stunned at how pretty it was.”

Community Involvement

In October 2022, the dream of restoring ecologically valuable land near the Sheldrake began to materialize.  Nearly 100 volunteers came together to clear invasive species and prepare the land for native planting.  This grassroots energy has been a defining strength of the Greenway effort.  Ellen Silver, a CFTE volunteer and current Village trustee, observed, “The Greenway has been a great opportunity for our community.  It brings people together while they get outside in nature; a lot of friendships have been formed through working on this project.”

Ecological Restoration Effects

The ecological restoration is designed with intention.  Native plantings such as milkweed — essential for endangered monarch butterflies — as well as other pollinator host plants such as spicebush, willows, and oaks have been carefully introduced.  Dehais notes that local wildlife is returning to the parks, including pollinating insects and birds, from ducks and geese to osprey, wild turkey, and a blue heron.  “The day we saw a fox was the high point for me,” she says.

Volunteer Lucas O’Malley, a frequent presence on workdays, underscores the significance: “These animals don’t have much help, so as long as we can help them, that’s important.”  He added that hearing about the monarch’s placement on the endangered species list galvanized his commitment to creating safe habitats.

Nostrand-Howard Riverside Park

The Nostrand-Howard Riverside Park, the second of the two restored spaces, offers another powerful example of turning underutilized land into meaningful green infrastructure.  This park, also located along the riverbanks, complements Rockland in offering a reprieve for both humans and wildlife and serves as a key connector within the growing Greenway corridor.

Investing in Resilience and Connectivity

The Greenway Project has also received critical funding support.  The Village secured a $50,000 grant from the EPA through the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) to support the current phase of ecological improvements.  The work is being conducted by Assemblage Landscape Architects of Brooklyn and administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension.  Their design emphasizes green infrastructure, a sustainable approach to landscape architecture that uses natural systems to manage stormwater and increase resilience.

In addition, Assemblyman Steve Otis secured a $10,000 grant from New York State Parks, enabling Assemblage to design two new crosswalks that will safely move residents along the Greenway: one linking the planned Salt Shed Park to Bub Walker Park across Fenimore Road, and another connecting Rockland Pocket Preserve to the new Rockland Birdwalk Park across Rockland Avenue.

These improvements are laying the groundwork for future expansion.  The Village is working on additional grant applications to extend the Greenway further — creating a more continuous corridor of green space that blends flood mitigation, ecological health, and community access.

A Community-Rooted Future

One of the Greenway’s strongest aspects is its emphasis on public participation.  From hands-on planting to guided tours, the project has created opportunities for people of all ages to learn about the rivers that flow through their village.  “Kids love visiting the parks,” says Dehais. “People don’t realize how many families live here in the Industrial Area.  There was no green space before we made the Rockland Pocket, zero, with no access to the river, and now we see folks sitting on the benches, enjoying the birds, and the butterflies.  It’s not just about plants; this is for people.”

Education remains key to sustaining the Greenway’s impact.  Controlling invasive species is an ongoing challenge, and awareness about the importance of native plants as the keystones of a healthy environment must continue.  “Community education is essential.  Everybody who volunteers with us learns that’s a huge part of what we do, the Girl Scouts, the local volunteers, you name it, everybody who shows up,” Dehais emphasizes.  “We need to ensure that people understand the significance of these spaces—and why they must be cared for and protected.”

Alignment with Local Initiatives

Greenway also aligns with the Village’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), a state-approved plan that guides sustainable development along Mamaroneck’s waterfronts.  The success of Rockland and Nostrand Parks reflects not just a vision to restore Mamaroneck’s ecology, but a clear commitment to community and shared stewardship.

A Model for Climate Resilience

As we conclude this chapter of the Greenway story, the message is clear: flood mitigation and environmental restoration can—and must—go hand in hand.  Through careful planning, community engagement, and meaningful investment, Mamaroneck is becoming a model for how small municipalities can creatively respond to the climate challenges ahead.

And this is only the beginning.  In the final article of this series, we’ll explore the many ways you can get involved — from volunteering and educational programs to helping shape the next phases of the Greenway.  But in the meantime, spring volunteering is happening now.

Visit CFTE’s Signup Genius to register for dates and times:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B49A8AC2CA7FCC70-49788596-village#/

For more information about the Greenway Project and the Committee for the Environment, email: CFTE@vomny.org 

(Michaela Loughran is a guest writer for this three-part series.  A junior at Tufts University, she is majoring in environmental studies and philosophy.)