New York State awarded Rye Brook $3 million to build stormwater infrastructure at Avon Circle. The flood-prone area near Port Chester Middle School has seen residents cut off by rising water during heavy storms.

Village Administrator Christopher Bradbury confirmed the grant to News 12 Westchester. "We've had several times where we've had to rescue people on Avon Circle, where some of the residential units have been cut off by the water that rushed through that development," Bradbury said.

The money will fund subsurface infiltration and streambank stabilization along Blind Brook, according to a press release from Governor Kathy Hochul's office. Hochul announced the grant Monday, Sept. 21, during Climate Week NYC as part of $80 million in statewide funding to combat extreme weather.

Rye Brook's award came through the Green Innovation Grant Program, administered by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). The program is funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which draws on the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022.

Eight projects statewide split $16.8 million in this round, with other Hudson Valley recipients including the City of Peekskill ($3 million) and Save the Sound, Inc. ($1.4 million).

The grant arrives after a stretch of punishing storms. On Sept. 13, more than 3 inches of rain fell across the Rye area overnight, flooding Playland Parkway and disabling four vehicles. First responders rescued stranded motorists in Rye and Port Chester, according to Rye police and Patch.

The Avon Circle project has been in the works for months. Mayor Jason Klein discussed collaboration with Westchester County and Port Chester on water storage projects at Avon Circle and Port Chester Middle School fields during an Aug. 13 podcast interview on MyRye.com. Bradbury told News 12 that planning was already underway before the state funding came through.

No construction timeline has been set.

The $3 million covers planning, design and construction, but no groundbreaking date has been announced. The total project cost and any local funding match were not disclosed in available records.

Separately, the City of Rye held a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 23, to discuss updates to its own flood laws, including proposed amendments to building construction and floodplain management codes. The next regular Rye City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. for executive session and 7 p.m. for public session at City Hall.