Parking Lots as Retention Ponds

The Performing Arts Center in Pinellas Park, Florida is sporting two brand new parking lots designed to be friendlier to the environment and more efficient with the use of city property. Porous pavers with geotextile separation fabric and sand underlayers are being used. As the project manager notes, this type of low impact design essentially uses the parking lot like a retention pond. Stormwater infiltrates straight through to the water table rather than runs off.