Morningside Park

The event celebrates the collaboration between NYC Parks, Columbia University’s Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, the Columbia Climate School and Friends of Morningside Park.

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined NYC Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, State Senator Cordell Cleare, Council Member Shaun Abreu, Manhattan Community Board 9 Chair Victor Edwards, Friends of Morningside Park President Brad Taylor, Columbia University Director of the Robert A. W. Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory Adrian Brugger and Columbia Climate School Lamont Research Professor Dr. Joaquim Goes, along with community members, to celebrate the reactivation of the iconic Morningside Park waterfall.

“The reopening of the Morningside Park waterfall exemplifies the power of partnership and environmental stewardship,” said NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This moment reminds us that through collaboration we can transform challenges into cherished community treasures. We are so grateful to have worked with Columbia University’s School of Engineering, and the Friends of Morningside Park to not only restore our environment, but also honor the legacy of activism that has shaped the history of Morningside Park.”

“We’re very proud to celebrate this innovative, interdisciplinary project from our faculty and students,” said Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong. “Their work underscores Columbia’s commitment to research and scholarship that engages local partners, strengthens the capacity of local government, and improves the experiences of our neighbors in Morningside Heights and across upper Manhattan.”

“Morningside Park’s waterfall and pond are beloved by the community members who enjoy them every day,” said Friends of Morningside Park President Brad Taylor. “We’re thrilled that the waterfall has been lovingly and expertly restored, and we look forward to a continued partnership with Columbia and NYC Parks to ensure that our park stays healthy and green for years to come.”

The event today highlighted the collaboration between NYC Parks, Columbia’s Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department and Friends of Morningside Park to get the waterfall up and running again. The Columbia Climate School is current conducting experiments and gathering data to determine how to improve the water quality of the pond.

The pond is located on the site where Columbia planned to build a controversial gymnasium in the park in the 1960s. The plan was halted after protests by the community and students, including local resident Suki Terada Ports, who was in attendance at the celebration. A crater was left in the park that remained for 20 years. In the 1980s, with partial funding from Columbia, NYC Parks built the pond and waterfall, which became a beloved feature of the park. However, the waterfall became unreliable and stopped operating in 2019.

A working group, which involved NYC Parks, Columbia Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia Climate School and Friends of Morningside Park, was formed in 2023, with support from local stakeholders.

Faculty and students at the Carleton Laboratory, part of the Columbia’s Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Department, studied the waterfall’s operation and retro-commissioned the existing pumps with advanced control systems. By restoring the original system, the waterfall is able to run again after years of downtime without incurring expensive replacement costs. The team at Columbia Climate School is also developing a non-toxic mineral blend that can stem the pond’s algae outbreaks. Alongside this, the Climate School team is developing a self-driving boat that can autonomously identify blooms and administer the mineral solution to eradicate them. Community events have also been organized to gather data on harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the pond, starting a baseline study.

With an investment of $25,000, NYC Parks moved the electrical cabinet powering the pumps above ground to protect it from flooding. Additionally, a variable frequency drive donated by Columbia was installed to optimize pump efficiency. These upgrades will help ensure the waterfall operates consistently for years to come.