Centennial Acres Park
Community-based Demonstration on Bioretention

Project Location - Lower Paxton Township (northeast of City of Harrisburg). Along Continental Drive, just off of Colonial Road.

Existing Conditions - Runoff from the 9,000 square foot parking lot is contributing to stream bank erosion, as well as increasing nutrient loads. Currently, there is very little vegetation stabilizing the stream banks and lawns are mowed close to edge – both are contributing to increased stream bank erosion.



Project Overview - The goal of this demonstration site is to minimize the impacts of stormwater by collecting and treating runoff from the adjacent parking lot using a bioretention garden.

The management portion of this project is coupled with the Centennial Acres project. The Centennial Acres Park Demonstration Project
provides an excellent opportunity for community involvement
and options/incentives for applying similar stormwater management projects to other parks and residential areas.
 

Project Activities - Drainage from impervious areas will be collected and treated, and the adjacent stream buffer will be enhanced. The project will prevent further degradation of the stream channel, decrease nutrient and sediment runoff from the park, and improve the riparian habitat.

In addition, the project is intended to raise public awareness about the importance of stormwater management, and implement a pilot-scale retrofit program. This community-based demonstration on bioretention will serve as a high profile educational opportunity.
Image courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation Highway Runoff Manual