MSD Elba Drive Sustainable Park Master Plan

BDC was hired by MSD to develop a plan for creating a naturalized open space within a flood-prone neighborhood located along the South Fork of Beargrass Creek. The overarching design concept was to create five planting zones that became more naturalized closets to the riparian edge of the creek while maintaining a mown lawn closer to the street. The planting palette was tailored to suit various levels of flooding and included meadows and a tree-lined stream which also would aid in stabilizing the highly eroded stream banks. A key focus of the project was to ensure the open space would fit into the surrounding neighborhood context by beautifying the neighborhood as a naturalized passive park while also serving as needed floodplain storage.