Sternwheeler Park in the City of La Center is located along the banks of the Lewis River in southwest Washington. It is a beautiful wildlife preserve providing natural habitat for birds, animals, and fish. The community of La Center wanted to figure out a way to make Sternwheeler Park more accessible to the surrounding community, linking the river to its civic center.
La Center’s Public Works Department enlisted the help of Otak, an engineering and landscape design firm based on Portland, Oregon to help conceptualize and design the project. In collaboration with Clark County’s Parks and Recreation Department and Clark Public Utilities, the team worked to develop the upland portion of the land south of the downtown with emphasis on striking a balance between public use and environmental protection. This included adding a grass-terraced amphitheater for the community and a sheltered instructional area for classes.
Additionally, the group specified the use of Ecoloc permeable interlocking concrete pavers throughout the park’s pedestrian surfaces. These pavers play a major role in keeping the environmentally sensitive area clean from pollutants that could be harmful to their ecosphere. They function through the use of voids between units that are larger than what one would typically find with standard concrete pavers. These voids direct stormwater into the soil where a layer of geotextile traps pollutants, like oil and heavy metals, preventing them from being carried by runoff into local waterways. For more information on how permeable interlocking concrete pavers function, check out our blog, Introduction to Permeable Concrete Paving.
The end result of this project was a stunning park that is the crown jewel of La Center that can be enjoyed by the entire community. It serves as a model for surrounding municipalities looking to plan for a more sustainable future.
Colf Construction was the general contractor for the project with the EcoLoc pavers mechanically installed by BC Pavers.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our permeable pavers can help with your stormwater management questions, please contact us at 1-888-688-8250 to speak with a commercial hardscape sales representative.
Resources:
Citations:
- Sternwheeler Park
- City of La Center, Washington
- Mutual Materials
- Mutual Materials – Permeable Pavers
Find locations for Mutual Materials branch stores here.
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