One of the largest underground stormwater infiltration systems in Minnesota
The City of Crystal wanted to improve water quality in their region—especially the impaired waters of Upper Twin Lake—so they engaged our help. We began with an evaluation, determining that Crystal’s flagship Becker Park would be an ideal location for an improvement project that would add stormwater treatment. The opportunity to house the system underground, aided by $1.475 million in non-city grant funds, inspired the City to scale up and redesign the park to better serve the community.
Our multidisciplinary team was involved throughout the green infrastructure project. We provided services that included project identification, grant writing, surveying, environmental due diligence, design, construction observation, and post-construction system monitoring. We retrofitted our design to work with the city’s existing storm sewer network and diverts stormwater into a 1.45-mile (2.4-kilometre) network of 6-foot (1.8-metre) diameter perforated pipes beneath the park. Perforations in the pipe allow for captured stormwater to seep into and filter through surrounding soils. Prior to this, stormwater from the mixed commercial and residential area was untreated and routed directly through the storm sewer network to the impaired Upper Twin Lake.
The success of the Becker Park project is a testament to what can be achieved through partnership, technical expertise, and dreaming big.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- City of Crystal
- Partners
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- Shingle Creek Watershed
- Management Commission
- Architect of Record
- WSB Engineering
- Architect of Record
- Oertel Architects
- Award
- ACEC MN, People's Choice Award and Honor Award Winner, 2021
Diane Spector, Senior Associate, Senior Environmental Planner
I help clients solve problems and implement creative solutions that ultimately make the world we live in a better, cleaner, greener place.
Todd Shoemaker, Principal, Senior Water Resources Engineer
I’m committed to empowering others to achieve—I do this by ensuring my team always feels supported and heard.
Rena Weis, Civil Engineer in Training
When designing stormwater solutions and planning for the future, we must listen to communities to understand their priorities and needs.
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