PA Grants Fund Eco-Friendly Municipal Parking Lot

Five new porous pavement parking lots were recently completed in Erie County, PA, providing a positive example of stormwater infiltration practices.

The Baker Creek Watershed Association received a Growing Greener grant and additional funding to create 320 feet of new streamside buffer, nearly 8,000 square feet of green space, 340 square yards of infiltration galley and 1,350 square yards of pervious parking service in the center of downtown North East Borough. Roof runoff from surrounding business buildings was captured and redirected into infiltration galleys to eliminate the surface flushing effect. The new parking area replaces an impervious surface municipal lot where oil and other residue from vehicles would accumulate and then wash into Baker Creek when it rained or snow melted. In addition to the pervious parking surface that will allow precipitation to percolate into the ground, native plants and a bioretention area are being installed to further improve the ecological functioning of the area.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=3527