Outstanding Environmental Engineering Project

The King Street Urban Greening Project is a new pocket park and multi-benefit stormwater capture project located at 1000 N King St in the City of Santa Ana, Orange County, California. The project transformed approximately 10,000 sq-ft of unused public space into a new park that features two Bioretention Basins and an underground stormwater infiltration system. The project also includes a pervious concrete bike path, decomposed granite pedestrian pathway, art features, drought tolerant landscaping, boulders, seating, lighting, and interpretive signage. 

The project was a collaboration between the City’s Public Works Agency and Parks Department. The two Departments worked together to achieve the desired project goals and secure a grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to fund the project. The project is unique because it provides the traditional benefits of a new neighborhood park, but it is also a regional stormwater infiltration project. When it rains, stormwater runoff from the surrounding neighborhood and new park will be captured by the Bioretention Basins and underground infiltration system and will percolate back down into the groundwater basin. The project is designed to capture approximately 16,000 cubic-feet of runoff per storm from the 10-acre drainage area, helping to improve water quality, enhance local water supplies, and reduce flooding. 

The project improved the quality of life for Santa Ana residents by providing a new park and enhancing the aesthetics of the community. The project area consisted of unused public space that was subject to illegal dumping and drainage issues. The project area was transformed into a new park and serves as a community-gathering place and new route to walk or bike to the Orange County Streetcar and nearby school. The landscaping provides shade, which reduces the urban heat island effect, while the project signage educates the community about stormwater management. A local artist hand-painted the 625 sq-ft mural and installed decorative mosaic tiles on the neighborhood monument sign, which gives a sense of pride to the Artesia Pilar community. 

The Project is located in the Santa Ana River Watershed and within a mile of the main stem of the Santa Ana River.  The Project assisted in addressing the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit requirements by diverting and infiltrating dry- and wet-weather urban runoff from a drainage area that is approximately 10-acres, primarily through an underground storage/infiltration system.  Infiltrating urban runoff reduces pollutant loading to the Santa Ana River and the ocean, while also helping to achieve regional water self-reliance by recharging the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which provides drinking water for the region. 

The surface within this space was also enhanced and includes Bioretention Bains that connect to the subsurface infiltration system.  A Class 1 bike trail was constructed through the site with pervious pavement and wayfinding signage directs cyclists through the site to the Santa Ana River bike trail.  A separate walking path takes pedestrians through the site, separate from the bike trail.  The City partnered with a local artist, who was selected through a community outreach process.  The artist painted a large mural honoring the neighborhood history and highlighting water quality.  The artist also collaborated on the construction of a large entry monument sign that highlights the neighborhood.