The City of Eaton Rapids just finished its first porous
parking lot, a nearly $175,000 investment the city says will help keep water
off the parking lot and protect the river from harmful pollutants.
The parking lot, which is off of Knight Street
and behind
Pettit Hardware, has a layer of concrete and two layers of rock
limestone. The
dual layers and nearby rain gardens filter dirty water runoff, which
collects oil, tire residue and other pollution from the cars in the
parking lot
before it goes into the Grand River.
“It’s very important to the history and the quality of
life of the city,” says Brian Reed with the City of Eaton Rapids about putting
in a porous parking lot. “Since our downtown is actually an island, we’re very
committed to preserving the water quality that’s in our rivers.”
The city received a $114,700 grant for the project. The
city and Downtown Development Authority paid $53,286 towards its construction.
The city will put in another porous parking lot soon. Reed believes it will go
behind the old fire station and serve as a canoe launch.
Source: Brian Reed, City of Eaton Rapids
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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