 New Storm to Shade Features Come to Iron Horse Park
Iron Horse Park is the City’s latest neighborhood park to receive green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) improvements—built and natural systems to capture, clean, and use rainwater to support native vegetation. This 2.7-acre park’s new GSI features have the combined capacity to collect more than 51,000 gallons of stormwater!
Here’s info about Iron Horse Park’s new Storm to Shade features:
3 new water harvesting basins were placed in a previously barren and underutilized space along the park’s northern perimeter. Basins are rock lined to prevent erosion and have a footprint of 6,823 square feet.
3 new sidewalk scuppers now direct stormwater runoff from both 1st Avenue and 10th Street to water harvesting basins where it infiltrates into the soil.
Planting new native and desert-adapted trees and vegetation in and around water harvesting basins to promote shade, attract wildlife. Among the 16 new trees include mesquite, desert willow, and desert ironwood; dozens of native plants and succulent species include fairy duster, dalea, hopseed bush, turpentine bush, chuparosa, saguaro, Arizona rosewood, ocotillo, red yucca, deer grass, and more.
Adding a new decomposed granite walking path along the south side of the water harvesting basins.
These GSI improvements are the result of a collaboration between Tucson Parks and Recreation and the City’s Storm to Shade program, which is funded by a small monthly GSI fee paid by Tucson Water customers within city limits.
The City is also investing $442,000 from voter-approved Prop 407: Great Parks funds at Iron Horse Park. The result: a shady, sustainable neighborhood park with a new playground and swings, small and large dog park areas, new landscaping, a succulent garden, improved lighting, and resurfaced basketball courts.
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