New Yorkers Face New Climate Risks

A two-acre fire in a city park prompted city officials to ban grilling while urging residents to conserve water to limit the impact of a historic drought.

1 minute read

November 14, 2024, 5:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


People walking and on bikes on paved multiuse path in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City.

A fire last Friday burned two acres of wooded parkland in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. | Jelena / Adobe Stock

New York City residents are being urged to take new precautions as a historic drought is impacting the city’s water supply and creating dangerous conditions for fires. The city banned grilling in city parks after a fire burned two acres of Prospect Park in Brooklyn. “Meanwhile, New York City Department of Environmental Protection staff and police are helping local and state first responders fight wildfires upstate to protect the watersheds that supply the city.”

As Ysabelle Kempe notes in Smart Cities Dive, “October was New York City’s driest on record and also brought the city its second-longest recorded streak of time without rain, according to the city.” The conditions are creating risks not usually present in the city and could create a water shortage if residents and the city don’t take conservation measures. Governor Kathy Hochul warned New Yorkers that the state can no longer count on typical fall rain, which would keep fires from spreading.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

3 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

4 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

5 hours ago - ASLA The Dirt