Penrose Green Street Retrofit

Penrose Green Street Retrofit

Project Team
Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Team Arlington County Stormwater Team Sagres Construction, Corp.
Project Description

The Penrose Green Street Retrofit project was initiated by the Penrose community as part of Arlington’s Neighborhood Conservation (NC) program, in which communities can apply for funding for projects. The NC program is designed to empower residents to improve their neighborhoods. The Penrose community developed a conservation plan, prioritized potential projects and submitted their request, which was ultimately approved by the Arlington County Board

To improve walkability, the slip lane was removed and converted to a green space. Two heavily planted bioretention cells were installed to capture and absorb runoff, with walking access through the middle. High visibility crosswalks, corner curb extensions and new ADA compliant ramps improved pedestrian safety. The impact of the project included:

More than 4,000 square feet of pavement were removed and converted to green space.
The two bioretention cells capture runoff from 12,197 square feet of impervious area, with a total drainage area of 29,185 square feet
The green space and bioretention were heavily planted with native plants and trees, providing year-round interest and habitat for birds and pollinators.
Overall, by removing excess pavement and replacing it with a community-initiated green space that incorporates significant stormwater benefits, this project created a highly visible and valuable model that can be reproduced in other locations in Arlington County.

Small But Mighty

Our Best Urban BMP in the Bay Awards (BUBBAs) are designed to recognize innovators in the field who are using new and creative techniques to treat runoff and protect streams. But these projects come in all shapes and sizes, sometimes making it tricky to compare small, homeowner and community-led projects to those designed and built by comparatively wealthy counties and cities. Enter: The Small But Mighty Award! This year, our jurors selected three nominees from across all of our categories to compete for a second “grand prize” focused on recognizing programs and projects implemented on a small budget. These projects were cost-effective and impactful and can serve as inspiration for small communities looking to improve their stormwater management.

Gallery

Attachment

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