The Ridgewood Reservoir, reserved for turtles, birds and the like for so many years, is set for the first step in what could be a major overhaul, New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson announced last week.

Thompson's February 19th approval of preliminary designs for the reservoir, located on city parkland at Highland Park in Ridgewood, permits a renovation of the reservoir's perimeter, not the reservoir itself, but opens the door for future work on the rest of the site.

"I am happy to announce the approval of a contract to begin the design of the perimeter of Ridgewood Reservoir, which will greatly improve the safety of those who utilize the space as a means of recreation," Thompson said in a statement.

The city comptroller said the contract was awarded to Mark K. Morrison Associates LTD (MMA). The group, along with the Parks Department, will design and build new fences, benches, and lighting aimed to increase the safety of pedestrian paths around the reservoir.

Thompson also gave the go-ahead for the firm to come up with three "conceptual plans" for the reservoir itself. The comptroller's approval of the plans will be contingent upon public support for the bigger project of restoring the reservoir.

Thompson said his office worked with the Parks Department and community residents in order to incorporate public input before issuing the contract for the new design plan. In June of 2008, Thompson rejected a design for the reservoir - that would have covered over part of the site - because it would have been approved without enough input from local residents.

Thompson said the community would be involved in each new phase of the project.

"Under this new agreement, we have ensured that the public will have a say in the ongoing design and construction process of the rest of the reservoir each step of the way," Thompson said.

The reservoir was built in 1848 as a collection reservoir to help provide residents of the city of Brooklyn - then still separated from New York City - with drinking water.

After Brooklyn was incorporated into the City of New York in 1898, residents were given access to the city's larger water system and the reservoir quickly lost its primary use. It became a backup reservoir in 1959 and, following decades of decay, was finally decommissioned in 1989.

Since then, the area has become a unique natural habitat for a variety of birds, reptiles, fish, and plants. Over 137 bird species, among them eight National Audubon Society-designated rare ones, live there today.

Community environmentalists opposed last year's plans to fill in part of the reservoir, arguing that the site's wildlife would be harmed if the reservoir is developed. Thompson said this time around the city was committed to ensuring that any renovation of the site would be predicated on public approval.

"This contract creates a level of community input that enables this process to be open and transparent," Thompson said. "By including all parties in the process, the final result will better reflect the best interests of all involved."

Patricia Bertuccio, a spokesperson for the Parks Department, said the department looks forward to working on the reservoir.

"The Parks Department is pleased that the comptroller has approved the preliminary design contract," Bertuccio wrote in an email, "so that Parks can begin the design process and incorporate the input gained in numerous public listening sessions."