Flooded in Sandy, Jane’s Carousel gets extra protection
One of the lasting images of Sandy’s destruction was of Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park submerged in floodwater. On Wednesday, David and Jane Walentas were joined by Brooklyn Bridge Park President Regina Myer in installing a state-of-the-art flood protection system, AquaFence, to ensure that this neighborhood gem is safe from future storms.
The system consists of 44 marine-grade panels that can be quickly deployed when a storm is approaching. When not in use, the panels will be stored out of sight so the carousel can be enjoyed without interruption. The system is being donated by David and Jane Walentas.
“The carousel provides so much joy to the tens of thousands of children who visit each year, and it broke our hearts to see that put in jeopardy during Hurricane Sandy,” said Jane Walentas. “We hope that by protecting the carousel and pavilion from future storms we can ensure that more children can enjoy the unique thrill of experiencing a vintage carousel in this beautiful park on the East River Waterfront.”
“The image of Jane’s Carousel submerged during Hurricane Sandy will remain in our memories and is a testament to the importance of resilient design and preparedness in the face of climate change,” said Regina Myer, president of Brooklyn Bridge Park. “We are fortunate that our park designers made a conscious effort to design a park capable of withstanding the impact of storms and major floods and applaud David and Jane Walentas’ efforts to plan for the future.”