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Government

FMCP Meadow Lake Creek Overlook and Greenway Construction

Queens, New York

Project Overview

MFS Engineers & Surveyors provided geotechnical engineering services in support of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP) Meadow Lake Creek Overlook and Greenway Construction project located in the borough of Queens, New York. The project involved the development of a greenway segment to create a world-class, scenic, and safe route through FMCP, linking park amenities such as Meadow Lake, the Boathouse, cricket fields, and scenic views of Flushing Creek. The approximately 1,225-acre site had been the location of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs before officially being designated as parkland in 1967. The specific project area that was the focus of this investigation included Meadow Lake Road West and Meadow Lake Promenade between Meridian Road and Boathouse Bridge within the existing park.

Queens, New York

Project Details

Prior to mobilizing for the subsurface investigation, MFS performed a literature review by reviewing all available project information, including geologic publications, historic topographic maps, and historic land use. MFS coordinated with a trusted subcontractor drilling agency to conduct six (6) test borings along Meadow Lake Road West and Meadow Lake Promenade to a depth of 32 feet below existing site grade. Samples were taken via Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) continuously in the uppermost 12 feet below grade and at five-foot intervals thereafter to evaluate the subsurface conditions. In addition, a seventh test boring was conducted to a depth of 4 feet below existing site grade for environmental sampling purposes, as sampled by others.

MFS provided on-site, full-time oversight during the subsurface field investigation for the project. During boring operations, MFS observed the subsurface conditions and generated test boring logs to include soil classifications in accordance with the United Soil Classification System (USCS) and the New York City Building Code (NYCBC), groundwater observations, action of equipment, and other noteworthy observations.

Upon completion of the field investigation, MFS coordinated with an accredited geotechnical testing laboratory to conduct laboratory testing on selected soil samples to verify field classifications and obtain geotechnical physical characteristics. The laboratory testing conducted on soil samples included moisture content, sieve and hydrometer analyses, Atterberg limits, and specific gravity. In addition, MFS coordinated with the New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station (NJAES) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers) for top-soil specification testing on select soil samples. The horticultural testing conducted determined fertility, pH, soluble salt level, organic matter content, percentages of sand/silt/clay, soil textural class, and gravel content of soil in accordance with the Northeast Coordinating Committee for Soil Testing (NECC-1312) Recommended Soil Testing Procedures for the Northeastern United States.

The information from the field investigation and laboratory testing was evaluated with respect to the proposed construction and the results were presented in a written geotechnical engineering report along with an evaluation of the subsurface conditions and design and construction recommendations for the miscellaneous site features proposed as part of the envisioned site development.

Stats

  • Owner:
    NYC Parks

Services Provided

  • MFS provides professional geotechnical engineering services including geotechnical investigation and subsurface exploration, soil engineering services, and permeability testing.