(DNAINFO) Jeanmarie Evelly | June 1, 2016 — The gardens are designed to absorb rain water to prevent sewer overflow.

The city is building more than 300 rain gardens on streets in western Queens, part of a $7.3 million project to help curb pollution flowing into nearby Newtown Creek, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

The 321 gardens — also known as bioswales — are being built in Sunnyside, Maspeth and Ridgewood, largely clustered east of the Kosciuszko Bridge and in neighborhoods around the Queens-Midtown Expressway in Queens Community Boards 2 and 5.

Source: City to Build 300 Rain Gardens in Queens to Curb Newtown Creek Pollution – Sunnyside – DNAinfo New York