What happens when you take 9,000 square feet of unused space and turn it into a vibrant community green space?
That is what this year’s #1 Top Project sought to do. The City of Santa Ana King Street Urban Greening Project, located in the Santa Ana River Watershed, helped the city, which is located above the Orange County Groundwater Basin, meet its MS4 permit requirements and improve water quality in the Santa Ana River.
To achieve its overall goal of turning the unused space into a community area, the team had various steps in place. First, was reducing the amount of waste and debris. This effort included three waste receptacles, three anti-littering signs and one interpretive sign featuring educational information.
Then came beautifying and improving the public space. To achieve this, the team increased landscaping and implemented electrical enclosure artwork, a pervious pavement bike path, interpretive signage, stormwater bioretention areas, benches, a community art mural, Artesia Pilar Neighborhood monument sign and other surface improvements. Approximately 3,300 square feet of landscaping was incorporated, covering about 40% of the site, including native and drought-tolerant species and a drip irrigation system.
Along with improving the area for walking and recreation, including green infrastructure elements that will reduce the heat island impacts and contribute shade and cooling to the walkways, the project sought to advance equity for underserved communities.
The project benefited a disadvantaged nearby area – identified as such due to the number of students that receive Free or Reduced-Price Meals and the Area Median Income. The project provided connections to safe sidewalks and bike lanes, improved walkability and access to recreation and 100% of grant funds, which come from a Clean California Local Grant Program, will benefit the nearby community.
“The project success has encouraged the City of Santa Ana to pursue additional funding opportunities to implement other projects like it within their community,” said Katie Harrel, PE, ENV SP, QSD, of CWE.
Of course, underneath the addition of landscaping and other green infrastructure elements, the team had to consider stormwater runoff.
Stormwater flows into the project area and is then directed into two bioretention basins, which have specialized plant, soil and gravel layers that are designed to filter pollutants and prevent trash from entering the storm drain system. Then, the stormwater percolates through the basins into an underground infiltration chamber system. This system is designed to infiltrate about 116,700 gallons of stormwater per storm. From the chamber, the water percolates into the North Orange County groundwater basin, where it becomes a part of the local water supply – this basin provides drinking water for about 85% of North Orange County.
“This multi-benefit stormwater capture project is another example of the City’s commitment to protect the environment and improve our community. Stormwater capture and infiltration improves water quality in our watersheds, increases local water supplies, and reduces flooding,” said Craig Foster, EIT, CPSWQ, QSD/P, NPDES Manager for the City of Santa Ana.
The project was completed and celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony in early July.
