Point Of Contact Not Available

City of Lake Charles, Louisiana Hillcrest Park CP 3331 Hillcrest Park, located in Southeast Lake Charles, received a 2018 Great Urban Parks Campaign Grant to accomplish two main goals: to improve the usability of 4 acres of parkland located along a drainage lateral and to employ the site to manage stormwater in the surrounding underserved community. The site provides an opportunity to address localized flooding in the neighborhood and provide passive recreational and educational programs to the community and the city at large. It is bordered by a drainage lateral (L-44009) to the North, which flows West to East, converges into the Kayouchee Coullee, and is then pumped North into the Calcasieu River. The area is prone to flooding and the park is at an ideal location within the sub-watershed to manage stormwater using green infrastructure. The proposed plan will bring stormwater runoff into the site using inlets at two locations: on Hillcrest Drive and on Russell Street. This approach will divert runoff from flowing into catch basins toward a large bioretention facility, thereby reducing the burden on the drainage system during a storm. The bioretention cell, planted with native, water-loving plants, is designed to detain the water, filter out pollutants, and provide space and time to infiltrate into the soil. Additionally, the existing large swale on site will be widened to increase capacity and its slope will be directed toward the drainage lateral. This will allow natural topography to guide the runoff rather than requiring the drains and pipes to do all the work. In addition to the green infrastructure, a trail loop around the park that aesthetically matches the trail across the street will provide more opportunity for passive recreation. Gabion benches will be provided at four locations along the trail to enable park visitors to rest and relax. A gathering area and an outdoor classroom space for visiting students are also proposed. Interpretive signage throughout the park will educate visitors about multiple functions and benefits of the green infrastructure. Implementation of the plan will create a park that offers residents of this neighborhood a more usable green space as well as education opportunities. The plan is designed to fulfill the goals of the Great Urban Parks Campaign grant: to enhance recreation opportunities for the surrounding underserved community, to utilize the green space for neighborhood flood risk reduction, and to offer an educational opportunity for the entire City of Lake Charles.

Bid Protests Not Available