Abington Township, Senator Ben Sanchez, and representatives from the Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership will unveil R-Tank Stormwater Models on Wednesday, May 31 at 4:00pm at Alverthorpe Park, 483 Forrest Avenue, Elkins Park.
The installation of the tanks, which are used to filter water during a storm, will benefit Alverthorpe Park’s stream restoration project after being awarded $175,000 in state funding. The grant will help by intercepting an existing stormwater pipe which directly discharges 21 acres of uncontrolled stormwater runoff to Alverthorpe Lake.
The funding will be used to retrofit a parking lot, installing and directing stormwater runoff into a subsurface infiltration basin. The project will manage and clean runoff before slowly releasing it to the lake, reducing runoff volume and velocity and resulting in cooler water temperatures.
The R-Tank Stormwater Module, also known as the subsurface infiltration basin, will manage and clean stormwater runoff in an underground storage system before slowly releasing it into Alverthorpe Lake.
“Managing stormwater runoff has been a long-time endeavor at Alverthorpe Park, and it’s largely made possible thanks to grants like this,” Sanchez said. “Updating stormwater management means that the park will have a long-reaching impact, as it also protects the park’s sports fields, nearby roadways and local biodiversity. I’m happy to help bring this funding home to keep the Alverthorpe Park project moving and benefit Abington residents.”
Sanchez and Project Manager Susan Harris will recognize the installation of subsurface infiltration basins and speak about the long-lasting benefits of the project, including protecting the park’s sports fields, nearby roadways and local biodiversity. Leadership and local dignitaries will share a few words about the project.
“This support is critical to our efforts to address runoff pollution that impacts the health of our creeks, green spaces, and communities. We can’t get this work done without the partnership of our watershed residents and municipalities, state and private partners, and local elected leaders like Representative Sanchez,” said Julie Slavet, TTF executive director.
The basins are half full, so there will also be photo opportunities for people to climb inside of the basin.
About the project:
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development funded the grant and was used to install stormwater management measures by intercepting an existing stormwater pipe, which directly discharges 21 acres of uncontrolled stormwater runoff into Alverthorpe Lake.To achieve this, the park’s parking lot was reconstructed to install and direct stormwater runoff into subsurface infiltration basins. The Alverthorpe Park stream restoration project is headed by the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership. To learn more about this project, you can click here.
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Photo courtesy of Abington Township