Nearly 4,000 NYC students plant 100,000 beachgrass stalks to fortify Coney Island dunes

Nearly 4,000 public-school students in New York City have taken part in a dune-restoration project at Coney Island Creek Park, planting over 100,000 American beachgrass culms since 2022. The initiative is run by the National Wildlife Federation’s Resilient Schools and Communities programme, which blends climate education with hands-on habitat work. By establishing dense root networks, the beachgrass helps bind sand, curb erosion and create a natural barrier against storm surge for an estimated 50,000 people living nearby.

The project involves collaboration with NYC Parks, the American Littoral Society, corporate volunteers and local residents, and includes teacher professional-development tied to the curriculum. Future plans call for additional native shrubs and trees to further reinforce flood protection and wildlife habitat. Emily Fano, who leads the NYC effort for the NWF, highlighted the importance of listening and building trust within the historically under-invested Coney Island community.