Tommesenia Floyd Nature-Based Stormwater Memorial Park
McCormick Taylor provided engineering and design for the creation of a stormwater-based park utilizing nature-based solutions within the previous Head Start school grounds on behalf of the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR).
The Challenge
The Tommesenia Floyd Nature-Based Stormwater Memorial Park Project focused on creating a stormwater park in the Town of Nichols, SC at 406 E Old Stage Road, the previous home of the Nichols Head Start School Building. The goal of the project aimed to reduce the risk of flooding in an area which had no existing stormwater related infrastructure and was located within a 100-year floodplain. As such, the site was determined to be at significant flood risk by the town of Nichols. In addition to serving as protection from stormwater, the Town of Nichols also wanted the stormwater park to be a gathering point and recreation area for the local community.
How We Helped
The McCormick Taylor team provided a variety of critical services to deliver the project including: field surveys, utility coordination, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), geotechnical investigations, hydrology and hydraulic design, two-dimensional (2D) PCSWMM modeling, public involvement, benefit-cost analysis (BCA), environmental documentation, permitting, downstream impact analysis, maintenance of traffic, signing and pavement marking, and the development of final plans and an advertisement package.
The resulting design included a 1-acre pond that had the capacity to store 3.3 acres, or over one million gallons, of stormwater in addition to its permanent capacity outside of storms. Native plants and a wed sediment basin design were incorporated, improving water quality and nurturing biodiversity in the area. Additionally, a walking trail with educational signage, benches, picnic tables, a boardwalk over the water, restrooms, a playground, an open area for events or food trucks, and a rain garden were included to complete the community friendly design. McCormick Taylor also provided support throughout construction of the project.
The Results
The new Tommesenia Floyd Nature-Based Stormwater Memorial Park, named after Mrs. Tommesenia Floyd, the first African American council member in Nichols, not only serves as a community space for reflection, recreation, and learning, but also as an innovative nature-based stormwater project that will protect and strengthen the Town’s resilience against flooding. Since its completion, the Town of Nichols identified 33 structures in the immediate area that are benefitting from the protection provided by the stormwater park
