Hamden Town Center Park Construction Oversight

A nature-based solution in a public park manages millions of gallons of stormwater annually while enhancing wildlife habitat and restoring the natural hydrology of local waterways in an urban watershed.

After flowing through an 88-acre urban watershed, stormwater runoff in Hamden, CT was discharging into Town Center Park. Even moderate rainfall was inundating the park, which serves as a wildlife habitat preserve, bird sanctuary, and space for arts, historic, and recreational uses. During heavy storms, polluted stormwater was flowing over the park and into a diversion channel leading to the Mill River and ultimately, the Long Island Sound.

To address the problem in a way that improved water quality as well as regional ecology and the park visitor experience, Save the Sound partnered with the Town of Hamden to develop a nature-based solution—a large-scale raingarden. To help ensure the solution delivered maximum ecological uplift and function, Save the Sound turned to Biohabitats to provide peer review and construction oversight.

After reviewing draft construction documents Biohabitats recommended amendments, such as grading modifications, local construction material and sources, habitat enhancement features such as large woody debris, and a planting palette – all to improve the site’s ecological function and performance. Biohabitats then provided construction oversight to ensure that the site’s ecological components were installed according to the design. This included directing grading for the wetland and supervising the installation of habitat features including stone, woody debris, and more than 7,000 native flowers, grasses, and shrubs. The project is expected to manage over 20 million gallons of stormwater each year from the surrounding drainage area.

TAGS

• Assessment+Monitoring
• Design
• Ecological Restoration