September 2014 - Parks & Recreation - 19

Community Center

Fun and Functional
Park planners in Florida incorporate a stormwater management
system into a state-of-the-art urban public space
By Marissa Bracamonte

hose living in low-elevation areas of the United States understand the
danger of flooding caused by heavy rains, but what about a park that is
designed for this very thing? That's the case for dual-use Cascades Park
in Tallahassee, Florida. Called " a stormwater management system disguised as
a world-class park, " the 25-acre Cascades Park boasts numerous points of historical significance, including the Prime Meridian Marker, the Smokey Hollow
Commemoration and the Korean War Memorial, all within view of Florida's
state capitol. What's grabbing attention now is the park making its mark as both
an area with impressive recreational features and a way to manage excessive rains.

Genesis

Cascades Park is the center of a new
green urban corridor in southeastern
Tallahassee. Thanks to engineering
and planning firm Genesis, the Capital
Cascades Trail Master Plan and Cascades Park plans would address a program for both recreation and stormwater management. The park lies on
what is both an EPA Superfund site
and industrial area, and is a model for
reusing previously abandoned sites.
Cascades Park also provides something crucial to this low-lying section
of Tallahassee - a source of flood re-

Parks & Recreation

lief. Now, the park contains a drainage
area of approximately 1,478 acres.
With the ever-expanding urban setting
surrounding Cascades Park, the park
plan called for retaining walls for significant stormwater conveyance, reminiscent of the area's original St. Augustine
Branch stream that ran through southeastern Tallahassee, but didn't allow
for as much stormwater transportation.
Now, the stormwater management system features not only better conveyance
but also a healthy, sustainable stream
ecology featuring revegetated stream

Visitors to this modern Tallahassee park may
not recognize its critical role in stormwater
management for the city.
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banks to contribute to the treatment process of the moving water.
Besides the practical use for stormwater management, the park features
many other amenities, including
winding trails, green infrastructure, an
amphitheater, the Cascade Fountain
waterfall and pond overlooks, an interactive fountain and water play area,
and a Discovery and Adventure Garden featuring nature-oriented activities
for children and adults. Cascades Park
is not only an effective public works asset to keep people safe from dangerous
flood conditions, it is a modern, urban
playground for recreation and leisure.
The landscape features are also worth
noting. The landscaping was designed
to enhance and connect the natural outdoor areas around the park while also
arranging shade trees and plant beds so
multiple vantage points offer enjoyable
views. Besides convenience measures,
the park design preserves tree groves
that include century-old live oaks as
well as planting new and mostly native
species. Natural spaces that are significant to Cascade's heritage are also preserved under the plan.
With multiple benefits for this Florida community - stormwater management, diverse recreation opportunities,
conservation and even reuse of the
land itself - Cascades Park is a model
for green urban facilities that not only
embraces modern features but honors
the heritage of the land while providing an important safety advantage.
Marissa Bracamonte is the Editorial Intern
for Parks & Recreation Magazine
(mbracamonte@nrpa.org).

September 2014 - Parks & Recreation

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