Small-Scale Green Infrastructure
Great Urban Parks Campaign
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) awarded Local Government Commission with funding under the Great Urban Parks Campaign (GUPC) to promoting and advancing green infrastructure stormwater management projects within parks. The campaign specifically highlights the multiple benefits green stormwater management projects can bring to surrounding communities including improved community health, access to green space and nature, opportunities for education and employment, and increased resiliency. Local Government Commission managed small-scale catalyst green infrastructure projects in three California communities.
Small-Scale Green Infrastructure
As the use of green infrastructure is becoming more popular, many communities are struggling to implement traditionally engineered, expensive, and time-intensive strategies. Green infrastructure is a viable approach to build climate resilience for all communities, whether they are an urban metropolis or a small rural town.
Small-Scale Green Infrastructure projects respond quickly, cost-effectively, and inclusively to the climate crisis. These small-scale projects convert both paved and existing underutilized green space into highly functional drought and flood-tolerant landscapes within a few months.
Current Projects
Morro Bay
LGC worked with the City of Morro Bay to retrofit an unused parking lot into a 1,500 square foot rain garden. The area receives runoff from a public boat wash that previously flowed straight into the storm drain, emptying into the Bay.
Elk Grove
LGC worked with Cosumnes Community Services District to create an accessible and inclusive park for community members of all physical and cognitive abilities. The Elk Grove Nature Park will use green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and promote environmental awareness.
Woodland
LGC is working with the City of Woodland to create a 1,500 square foot rain garden, with drought-tolerant planting demonstration areas, in the William Crawford Senior Park. The main purpose of the Woodland Crawford Park Stormwater Retrofit project is to capture stormwater runoff from El Dorado Drive.
Project Site
Morro Bay
Before
After
Elk Grove
Before
After
Woodland
Before
After
Rain Gardens in Action!
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