Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Stormwater Planters are Greening Indy

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is known mostly for being a bicycle and pedestrian path. It’s also adding significant greenspace in the downtown area. Along the first half-mile alone (Alabama Street from North Street to Market Street), 60 new trees, and 16,000 square feet in new shrubs, perennials and other plantings have replaced concrete and asphalt.  But did you know that many of the planting areas are specifically designed to reduce and clean stormwater runoff from the street? Typically, all stormwater on the street runs into a storm sewer and from there into our rivers and streams. These planters are dramatically reducing the amount of runoff and associated sediments and pollutants that eventually flow into the storm sewer system. These are the first stormwater planters in the city!  (Maybe even the state. We’re not sure.)

It’s great that we can learn from other cities and apply best practices to this dynamic project. The stormwater planters were inspired by Portland, Oregon, which uses them extensively throughout its neighborhoods and urban areas. Next time you’re in Portland, check out the Stormwater Walking Tour presented by Portland State University: or if you just want to learn more, check out Portland’s Sustainable Stormwater Management Program.

When you consider the overall impact of the stormwater and other planters planned along the eight mile Cultural Trail, that’s a LOT of water saved from our sewer system. The plantings will also make downtown more beautiful, green and create better air quality.

Learn more about the stormwater planters along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/east.html