Svihra Park – Read School GSI Design-Build

Design-build services for two urban bioretention systems create a more welcoming landscape while providing a natural solution to stormwater runoff issues.

Urban stormwater runoff in Bridgeport Connecticut presents a range of challenges associated with water pollution, hillslope erosion, and localized flooding. To improve water quality while creating a more welcoming and educational landscape, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) pursued the development of nature-based stormwater management at two public sites in the Island Brook watershed. TNC received a grant from Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to design and construct two green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) retrofits – one at Svihra Park and one at Read Elementary School.

Svihra Park is a forested area bound by Island Brook, Read Elementary School, and residential neighborhoods. Stormwater runoff drained from the roadway to a low point near the park’s entrance, resulting in erosion and nonpoint source pollution within the park’s wetlands and ultimately the Pequannock River. Meanwhile, stormwater entered the drainage system at Read Elementary School and discharged directly to the Island Brook tributary.

Joined by Schumack Engineered Construction and Franklin Survey, Biohabitats provided design-build services to deliver comprehensive and effective GSI retrofits to TNC. Biohabitats coordinated with TNC to design the Svihra Park GSI retrofit in a way that not only helps with traffic calming but is conducive to future park entrance and trail planning. The completed bioretention system will manage runoff from adjacent roadways and residential properties, filtering stormwater and mitigating erosion in the park.

At Read Elementary School, Biohabitats installed a shallow rain garden on the traffic island at the school’s entrance to capture runoff from the driveway, turnaround area, and adjacent impervious surfaces. This included creating curb cuts and excavating a section of the parking island to promote stormwater capture, ponding, and infiltration. The area was then planted with native shrubs and grasses.

These features have undeniable positives for both standard stormwater treatment goals such as water quality improvement, nuisance flood abatement, and erosion protection, as well as ecological uplift and community education and improvement. The team also accounted for anthropogenic use and maintenance implications when incorporating these practices into the natural landscape. With this project, Biohabitats is continuing the work that TNC has already accomplished related to park access, safety, enhancing ecology, and promoting environmental stewardship around Island Brook.

TAGS

• Design-Build
• Resilient Water Systems