This $18 million playground doubles as an unusual barrier against rising sea levels

Perched at the southern tip of Manhattan, the Battery Playscape proves that resilient landscapes can work hard but can look fun, too. Perched at the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is particularly vulnerable to flooding. In 2012, the low-lying region was pummeled by Hurricane Sandy, which flooded local tunnels, basements, and the nearby construction site at Ground Zero. But now, the area is protected by a growing network of sea walls, flip-up gates that can be deployed for a...