Estrella Park and Los Coches Awarded 'Project of the Year'
Award- Winning Green Infrastructure Projects
The American Public Works Association (APWA) honors exceptional public works projects that exemplify strong collaboration between managing agencies, design teams, and contractors. This year, the County of San Diego’s Department of Public Works submitted two projects for consideration— and both were selected as winners in their respective categories!
Project of the Year — Sustainable/Green Category
The Estrella County Park Biofiltration and Trash Capture Project was awarded APWA's Project of the Year in the Sustainable/Green category ($2-5 million) for its innovative use of Green Infrastructure to improve water quality and community resilience. Despite a historically wet winter, the project was completed on-schedule with a perfect safety record, strong community engagement, and a climate-smart design that includes biofiltration basins, drought-tolerant landscaping, and a solar-powered EV charging station. By transforming an undeveloped neighborhood park into a model of environmental stewardship, this project exemplifies sustainable, forward-thinking public works projects.
This project treats 22-acres of land and will remove an estimated 18 gallons of trash from local waters per year!
 Estrella County Park Biofiltration and Trash Capture Project was completed in Fall 2024.
Project of the Year — Environment
The Los Coches Dry Weather Diversion Pilot Project was awarded APWA's Project of the Year in the Environment category (less than $2 million) for its pioneering design that improves water quality and bolsters local water supplies. Completed on-schedule despite challenging site conditions, the project features a regional-scale trash capture device and a first-of-its kind system that diverts dry weather flows to the sanitary sewer. Strong community engagement, cost-saving innovations, and a swift redesign from gravity to pumped flow showcased the exceptional collaboration and problem-solving between the teams. As the County's first project to integrate water reuse with stormwater treatment, it sets a new standard for multi-benefit, climate resilient infrastructure.
The project is estimated to contribute 1.3 million gallons per year to local water supplies and remove an estimated 139 gallons of trash from local water ways per year!
 The Los Coches Dry Weather Diversion Pilot Project was completed in July 2024.
Visit our Awards Page to learn about more projects that have been honored with awards from many organizations!
The County is committed to expanding its award-winning Green Infrastructure initiatives. In the coming months, six new projects will enter the design phase, while two others are set to begin construction by early 2026. Visit our Green Infrastructure page to explore these exciting developments and stay up to date on their progress.
|
