The Ocean Park Blvd. Complete Green Street is a collaboration of John Kaliski Architects, landscape architects Lawrence Moss & Associates, and civil engineers Kimley-Horn & Associates. As the Architect's Rendition (top photo courtesy of John Kaliski Architects) shows, the project is a comprehensive plan that includes a bicycle lane, bike racks, outdoor furniture, and recycling and trash receptacles. Of particular interest is a system that reduces flooding and water run-off to Santa Monica Bay.
As the actual photo shows (bottom photo courtesy of L.A. Creek Freak blog), gutters have water inlets where rain water enters and passes to bioswales. Bioswales are patches of landscaped land between the gutters and the sidewalk. Here, water feeds the vegetation. Any excess water exits through water outlets and out to the bay, this time at a much lower quantity than before.
Another aid in conserving rain water is the use of porous asphalt. The lanes closest to the gutters are paved with porous asphalt that allows more rain water to seep into the ground. The bioswales and the porous asphalt create a watershed within the urban center. How brilliant is that?
I don't see these systems as rocket science, and they probably will help us solve our own flooding problems. Our DPWH, DENR, and DOST should work together to adopt this technology.
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