Restoring Four Sparrow Marsh: Bringing Native Plants Back to Brooklyn’s Wetlands 

Wetland restoration is about more than rebuilding a landscape—it’s about creating the conditions for an entire ecosystem to thrive.

At Four Sparrow Marsh in Mill Basin, Brooklyn, a major restoration project has helped bring nearly three acres of tidal wetland back to healthier ecological conditions. Completed in 2025, the $7 million project focused on restoring wetland conditions and functions while reestablishing native vegetation within the site. The project was led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with portions of the work taking place within NYC Parks property. [1]

Rebuilding a Wetland from the Ground Up

Restoring a wetland can require extensive work below the surface. As part of the Four Sparrow Marsh project, crews removed more than 9,000 tons of soil before clean sand and loamy soil were placed and fine-graded to help recreate appropriate wetland conditions. [1]

Once the landscape was prepared, the next step was bringing native vegetation back to the site.

The restored tidal, transition, and upland areas were planted using salvaged native marsh hummocks, along with new native plants and seeds. In total, the project included 50 trees, 255 shrubs, and nearly 40,000 herbaceous plant plugs and quarts. Among the species planted were smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), beach plum (Prunus maritima), northern bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica), saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata). [1]

These plantings are an important part of the restoration process. Native wetland vegetation helps create habitat, stabilize soils, and rebuild the plant communities that support the larger coastal ecosystem.

 Native Plants with a Purpose 

One of the most interesting aspects of restoration work is the selection of plants. Rather than simply choosing species that can survive on a site, restoration projects can use plants adapted to the specific conditions of a particular ecosystem.

Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Smooth cordgrass is a characteristic plant of Atlantic tidal marshes. It is well adapted to salty, regularly flooded conditions and is commonly associated with the lower portions of salt marshes.

Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)

Beach plum is a native coastal shrub found along sandy coastal habitats of the eastern United States.

Its ability to tolerate challenging coastal conditions makes it a useful component of native coastal plant communities. The shrub also produces fruit that can be utilized by wildlife, while its woody growth adds structural diversity to the landscape.

Northern Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica)

Northern bayberry is another native shrub associated with coastal environments.

Its dense growth can provide cover for wildlife, and its berries are an important food source for birds. Bayberry's tolerance of coastal conditions makes it well suited to restoration landscapes where native shrubs are needed alongside grasses and herbaceous plants.

Saltmeadow Cordgrass (Spartina patens)

Its extensive underground root and rhizome system helps anchor sediment and contributes to the physical structure of the marsh. Above ground, dense stands of cordgrass provide cover and habitat for wildlife.

Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)

Saltgrass is a hardy native grass that tolerates saline conditions and periodic flooding. It occurs in a variety of coastal habitats, including salt marshes and areas near mudflats.

Including plants adapted to these conditions helps restoration sites develop vegetation communities suited to the environmental conditions they will experience over time.

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Restoring Habitat for Wildlife

Four Sparrow Marsh is more than a collection of plants. The site provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, particularly birds that depend on coastal and wetland environments.

According to NYC's project announcement, the marsh area is home to birds including bobolinks, snipe, and little blue herons. The marsh also contains a diversity of plant life across its mudflats, marshes, and meadows. [1]

Restoring native vegetation helps rebuild the connections between plants and wildlife. As individual plants establish and mature, they become part of a larger living system—providing food, cover, and habitat while contributing to the overall ecological function of the marsh.

A Healthier Marsh for Jamaica Bay

Four Sparrow Marsh is part of the larger Jamaica Bay ecosystem, one of New York City's important natural areas.

Coastal wetlands provide a range of ecological benefits, including habitat for wildlife and natural shoreline protection. NYC officials have also highlighted the role of salt marshes in supporting biodiversity and helping coastal areas withstand environmental pressures. [1]

The Four Sparrow Marsh project was undertaken as part of an agreement with New York State to replace regulated wetland loss, with the goal of improving the ecological health of Mill Basin, a tributary of Jamaica Bay. [1]

The project demonstrates how physical site restoration and native plant establishment can work together. Rebuilding appropriate soil and elevations creates the foundation for a functioning wetland; reintroducing native vegetation helps turn that foundation into a living ecosystem.

Growing Back What Belongs Here

Successful ecological restoration doesn't happen overnight. Newly planted vegetation needs time to establish, spread, and interact with the surrounding environment.

But every restored plant community is a step toward a more functional ecosystem.

At Four Sparrow Marsh, thousands of native plants now have the opportunity to take root in a landscape designed to support them. From cordgrass in the tidal marsh to shrubs and grasses in higher areas, each species contributes to rebuilding the diversity and character of this coastal habitat.

For us, projects like Four Sparrow Marsh demonstrate why plant selection matters so much in ecological restoration. The right plants don't simply make a restored site look natural—they help make the ecosystem work again.

Source

[1] NYC Department of Environmental Protection. “City Completes $7 Million Wetland Improvement Project in Brooklyn’s Four Sparrow Marsh.” July 31, 2025. {"fallbackMarkdown":"Read the original NYC announcement",

Project facts, including restoration acreage, soil removal, planting quantities, and species listed above, are based on the NYC announcement. The article above is an original editorial summary and is not an official publication of the City of New York.