Stormwater Parks

Stormwater parks are community facilities that both manage stormwater from a larger area (regional stormwater facility) and provide recreational opportunities (parks, trails, open space, community gardens, etc.)

With a moderate sized facility, a stormwater park can cost effectively treat stormwater from an entire basin, which could be hundreds of acres, and fix legacy stormwater problems from roads and land developed before current regulations were in place. A facility that can provide multiple services is especially useful in places where land is at a premium.

• Stormwater parks can help address equity when built in communities without access to open space and recreational opportunities.
• Stormwater parks can build resilience to climate change by increasing green space and stormwater management.
• Regional facilities, such as stormwater parks, have been found to be the most cost-effective way to treat stormwater.
• Park renovation can provide the opportunity to turn a portion of a park into a stormwater park. In addition to stormwater treatment, the stormwater facility can provide green space and wildlife habitat.
• Stormwater facility renovation can provide the opportunity to add recreational amenities. Trails, benches, art and wildlife viewing areas are common amenities added to renovated stormwater facilities.
• Stormwater parks can provide educational opportunities on protecting water quality, habitat, and other environmental issues.
• By helping to improve water quality and fish habitat, stormwater parks support Tribal treaty rights.
• Because they provide multiple services, stormwater parks can be funded by multiple sources, including grants from many agencies.
• The concept of stormwater parks can be broadened to other types of multiple benefit infrastructure such as floodplain parks, stormwater trails, and resilience parks, which are parks that can help address and mitigate the effects of climate change.