To help reduce stormwater run-off on downtown streets, a popular Myrtle Beach, MD, parking lot is going green. Green parking lots incorporate permeable or semi-permeable paving, porous design techniques, and landscaping to reduce stormwater runoff.
The city’s Infrastructure Project Manager Chris Miller says that the city will see multiple benefits. The new pavers will reduce run-off and increase the amount of available parking by eliminating the need for a retention pond to hold rainwater.
The pavement will be made from concrete bricks that allow rainwater to seep through. The brick is made with three different layers of stone, including a sand layer, to absorb the water. Miller says that the pavement will be able to handle up to 500 gallons of water per minute.
More on green parking lots appears in the August issue of Downtown Idea Exchange. Click to learn more about Downtown Idea Exchange and other resources for revitalizing downtowns and commercial corridors.