Air Quality Monitoring Dashboard-As of April 30, 2026

Community Air Quality Monitoring Dashboard

Battery Park City Resiliency Project — Resident-Friendly Monthly Summary

Current dashboard covers: December 2025 through April 2026

GTA is tracking these reports on behalf of residents because the official air monitoring documents are technical and not easy for most residents to interpret. Our goal is to identify recurring concerns, explain them clearly, and press BPCA and its contractors for reliable monitoring, transparent reporting, and stronger dust prevention before problems affect residents.

First, What Are We Measuring?

The official reports use technical terms like PM10, PM2.5, and VOC. Here is what those mean in plain English.

PM = Particle Pollution

PM stands for particulate matter. In everyday terms, this means tiny particles in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, or particles created by construction activity.

PM10 = Larger Dust

PM10 refers to larger airborne particles. For residents, this is often the kind of dust most associated with demolition, excavation, soil, debris, and windblown construction material.

PM2.5 = Finer Particles

PM2.5 refers to much smaller particles. These can be more concerning for people with asthma, respiratory conditions, heart or lung conditions, older adults, and young children.

GTA resident focus: The reports reviewed so far do not show sustained 24-hour PM exceedances, but they do show repeated short-term dust spikes. GTA is watching whether BPCA and its contractors are preventing these dust events, not just responding after they occur.

Current At-a-Glance Status

24-Hour PM Exceedances
0

No sustained PM10 or PM2.5 regulatory exceedances reported in the reviewed months.

VOC Exceedances
0

No vapor or chemical exceedances reported in the reviewed months.

Latest Month PM Events
47

Short-term 15-minute PM events reported in April 2026.

Primary Watch Areas
R5/R7

Reach 5 remains the largest hotspot; Reach 7 emerged as a new watch area in April.

Plain-English meaning: The reports do not indicate a sustained air-quality crisis, but April showed a sharp increase in short-term dust events. GTA believes this should trigger stronger prevention, better site stabilization, closer subcontractor oversight, and clearer public reporting.

Month-by-Month KPI Summary

Month Areas Monitored 24-Hour PM Exceedances VOC Exceedances PM10 Short-Term Events PM2.5 Short-Term Events Total Short-Term PM Events Main Reported Causes GTA Watch Item
Dec. 2025 Reach 5, Reach 6 0 0 15 10 25 Paver demolition, site preparation, test pits, Upper Room demolition Active demolition dust
Jan. 2026 Reach 1, Reach 5, Reach 6 0 0 5 0 5 Wind gusts blowing loose soil during off-hours After-hours soil stabilization
Feb. 2026 Reach 1, Reach 5, Reach 6 0 0 14 5 19 Windblown soil, slab demolition, equipment exhaust, saw-cutting/chopping Dust control and equipment idling
Mar. 2026 Reach 1, Reach 3, Reach 5, Reach 6 0 0 16 11 27 Excavation, hand chopping, tree removal, exposed loose soil, wind events Reach 5 and off-hours wind events
Apr. 2026 Reach 1, Reach 3, Reach 5, Reach 6, Reach 7 0 0 37 10 47 Moving equipment, windblown dust, plywood barriers, waterfront work, Pumphouse Park work, subcontractor vehicles/materials, dewatering tanks, tree trimming, concrete deadman work Sharp increase in short-term dust events; Reach 5 remains highest, Reach 7 newly active, Reach 6/Gateway dewatering-related events

As BPCA publishes additional monthly reports, a new row will be added to this table.

Monthly Trend: Short-Term Dust Events

These are 15-minute PM10 and PM2.5 exceedance events. They are not the same as sustained 24-hour regulatory exceedances, but they are useful indicators of construction dust-control performance.

Dec. 2025
25
Jan. 2026
5
Feb. 2026
19
Mar. 2026
27
Apr. 2026
47
Plain-English takeaway: April had the highest number of short-term dust events in the reviewed period. This does not mean the air exceeded full-day standards, but it does show a clear increase in short-term construction dust activity that deserves attention.

PM10 vs. PM2.5 Events

PM10 is larger dust often associated with construction activity. PM2.5 is finer particle pollution and can be more concerning for residents with asthma, respiratory conditions, heart/lung conditions, older adults, and young children.

Dec. 2025 PM10: 15 / PM2.5: 10
Jan. 2026 PM10: 5 / PM2.5: 0
Feb. 2026 PM10: 14 / PM2.5: 5
Mar. 2026 PM10: 16 / PM2.5: 11
Apr. 2026 PM10: 37 / PM2.5: 10
PM10 larger dust PM2.5 fine particles

Where Are the “Reaches”?

The official reports divide the project into construction zones called reaches. Most residents will not know these technical labels, so GTA is translating them into more familiar neighborhood areas.

Reach 1 Friendly area name: West Street Crossing / Tribeca Generally the northern project connection near West Street / Route 9A and the area approaching Tribeca. April note: Two PM10 events were reported, attributed to moving equipment.
Reach 2 Friendly area name: North BPC Esplanade Generally the northern esplanade area near Stuyvesant High School and northern Battery Park City. April note: Not included in the April monitoring summary.
Reach 3 Friendly area name: Rockefeller Park Includes the waterfront and park areas around Rockefeller Park and nearby open spaces. April note: No PM10, PM2.5, or VOC exceedances were reported, but the notes section appears to include March dates and should be clarified.
Reach 4 Friendly area name: Belvedere Plaza / Irish Hunger Memorial area Generally the esplanade and plaza areas around Belvedere Plaza, the Lily Pond, Irish Hunger Memorial, and nearby ferry/plaza areas. April note: Not included in the April monitoring summary.
Reach 5 Friendly area name: North Cove Marina / Brookfield Place waterfront Includes North Cove Marina and adjacent waterfront/public spaces. April note: Reach 5 remained the largest hotspot, with PM events tied to windblown dust, waterfront/Pumphouse Park work, subcontractor vehicles, and other subcontractor activity.
Reach 6 Friendly area name: South BPC Esplanade / Gateway area Runs south from North Cove toward the Gateway area, including nearby Albany Street, Rector Place, and West Thames Street ends. This is especially important for Gateway residents. April note: Six PM10 events were reported, including events tied to dewatering tank mobilization, windblown dust, and moving materials.
Reach 7 Friendly area name: South Cove Includes South Cove and the nearby esplanade area connecting toward the southern Battery Park City resiliency work. April note: Reach 7 emerged as a new watch area, with PM events tied to tree trimming and installation work on concrete deadman equipment.
GTA watch item: April expanded the dashboard focus. Reach 5 remains the largest recurring hotspot, Reach 7 became newly active, and Reach 6 remains especially important for Gateway residents because of its proximity to the South Esplanade and street-end work areas.

What Caused the Short-Term Dust Spikes?

Cause Category What It Means Resident Concern
Demolition / paver removal Breaking or removing hard surfaces can create dust. Needs wetting, containment, and careful work sequencing.
Excavation / hand chopping Digging and breaking material can release dust. Needs water, barriers, and close monitoring.
Saw-cutting / chopping Cutting concrete or similar material can create intense short-term dust. Should be controlled directly at the source.
Windblown loose soil or dust Exposed soil or dust moves during gusts, often after work hours. Suggests need for better end-of-day, weekend, and pre-storm stabilization.
Equipment movement / dewatering tanks Moving heavy equipment, tanks, or materials can stir up dust. Important for Gateway residents because April Reach 6 events included dewatering tank mobilization.
Subcontractor activity / vehicles Work by subcontractors, vehicle movement, and waterfront or park work can contribute to short-term spikes. BPCA should make clear that all contractors and subcontractors follow the same dust-control expectations.
Tree trimming / concrete deadman work April Reach 7 events were tied to tree trimming and equipment installation on concrete deadman structures. New activity areas should receive close monitoring and advance notice to nearby residents and park users.
Equipment exhaust / idling Diesel or equipment exhaust can affect PM2.5 readings. Equipment should not idle near monitors, buildings, or pedestrian areas.

Resident-Friendly Interpretation

What is reassuring?

  • No reported sustained 24-hour PM10 or PM2.5 regulatory exceedances.
  • No reported VOC exceedances.
  • Most short-term events reportedly dropped below action levels by the next monitoring interval.

What remains concerning?

  • April had the highest number of short-term dust events so far.
  • Reach 5 remains a recurring hotspot.
  • Reach 7 became newly active with several short-term PM events.
  • Reach 6/Gateway-area activity included dewatering tank and material-movement-related PM10 events.
  • Windblown dust during off-hours remains a recurring concern.
  • Many April events were reported as requiring no mitigation, even where Action Level 2 was exceeded.

GTA Watch List for BPCA / Project Team

Question / Watch Item Why It Matters to Residents
What explains the April jump to 47 short-term PM events? April was the highest month reviewed so far. Residents deserve a plain-English explanation of why events increased and what will change going forward.
Why were many Action Level 2 events deemed not to require mitigation? The reports often say levels returned below action levels by the next interval, but repeated spikes suggest prevention should be strengthened, not just documented afterward.
How is loose soil or dust stabilized after hours, on weekends, and before windy weather? Several exceedances were attributed to windblown dust when the contractor was not working.
What special controls are being used in Reach 6 near Gateway? April Reach 6 events included dewatering tank mobilization and material movement. Gateway residents need clear information on nearby construction controls.
Are subcontractors held to the same dust-control and reporting standards? Several April events were attributed to subcontractor activity, including waterfront work, Pumphouse Park work, vehicles, tree trimming, and concrete deadman work.
Can report errors or carry-forward notes be corrected? The April report appears to include March dates in the Reach 3 notes section. Accurate, clear reporting is important for public trust.
Can BPCA publish a simple monthly public dashboard? The official reports are technical and difficult for many residents to interpret. A public-facing dashboard would improve transparency.

How to Read This Dashboard

PM10: Larger dust particles often associated with construction, demolition, soil, and debris.

PM2.5: Finer particles that can be more concerning for people with respiratory or heart conditions.

VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds, generally vapor or chemical-type readings.

15-minute exceedance: A short-term reading above a project action level. It does not necessarily mean the air exceeded a full-day regulatory standard.

24-hour exceedance: A longer-term regulatory exceedance measured over a full day. The reports reviewed did not identify these for PM10 or PM2.5.

Source note: This dashboard is based on monthly Community Air Quality Monitoring Reports prepared by Enovate Engineering, PLLC for the Battery Park City Resiliency Project, covering December 2025 through April 2026. GTA summarizes these technical reports for residents in plain English.

Important note: The official reports sometimes contain wording, date, or count inconsistencies. GTA’s dashboard uses the listed event counts and should be updated as BPCA or the project team publishes corrected or additional information.

Last updated: June 5, 2026, using the April 2026 report issued May 14, 2026. This page should be updated monthly as new monitoring reports are released.