Durkees Run Stormwater Park

Durkees Run Stormwater Park retrofitted underutilized tennis courts adjacent to Lafayette Jefferson High School into a park that manages the local watershed, is a destination on the Lafayette trails system, and serves as an outdoor classroom for the high school. The local watershed, incorporated into the park, accounts for approximately 10% of the overall Durkees Run Interceptor area and removes 2.8 million gallons per year from the combined sewer system. Opportunities for public outreach and education were realized, due to the park’s location, for the school and area residents. Interactive features include an outdoor classroom amphitheater, ADA accessible boardwalks and overlooks, signage and fabricated landscape features that serve to educate users on stormwater management. The park also includes minimal sewer separation techniques to create a heavily landscaped green infrastructure system in a centralized setting allowing public interaction. This project was part of a larger public works project included in the City’s long term control plan for combined sewer abatement.