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Permeable Pavers

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The Creeks Division has installed permeable pavers in City-owned parking lots, sidewalks, streets, alleys, and parks in several locations, in order to allow storm water and urban runoff to infiltrate into the ground. These projects demonstrate a retrofit that complies with the City’s Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) requirement to detain and treat the volume of water generated from a one-inch, 24-hour storm event.

These projects are designed to capture and treat polluted storm water and incidental runoff, and allow it to soak slowly into the ground. This prevents pollutants in runoff from flowing into storm drains, which lead directly to our creeks and ocean untreated.

Illustration of permeable pavers with gravel underneath.

Water flows through gaps between the pavers and through layers of rock underneath, and then into the ground, where it will be naturally treated by microbes in the soil.

This infiltration prevents flashes of polluted runoff from leaving the site and allows it to soak into the ground where it is treated, made available to surrounding plants, and helps recharge groundwater that supports more stable creek flows throughout the year.

In all, the Creeks Division has replaced over 4.6 acres of impermeable asphalt with permeable pavers.

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MacKenzie Park Parking Lot

In 2011, permeable pavers were installed in the MacKenzie Park parking lot at State Street and Las Positas Road. The project included permeable pavers installed in all parking stalls, with gently sloping speed bumps to direct storm water into the pavers.

Awards and Recognition

On March 30, 2012, the project was awarded the California Park & Recreation Society District 8 Award for Facility Design.

On April 10, 2012, representatives from the Regional Water Quality Control Board attended City Council to present a resolution commending the City on the project.

Stevens Park, Westside Neighborhood Center, and Oak Park

In 2013, existing asphalt parking lots at Stevens Park and the Westside Neighborhood Center were removed and replaced with permeable pavers. As part of the same project, parking lots, the stage area, and the picnic area at Oak Park were replaced with permeable pavers, and portions of pavement on the top of Mission Creek’s banks were turned back to landscape with native plants.

Funding for this project has been provided in part through a grant agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board.

Awards and Recognition

In 2015, the Oak Park portion of the project was awarded the California Park & Recreation Society District 8 Award for Facility Design.

Plaza de Vera Cruz, Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, and Quarantina Street

In 2015, the asphalt park service road through Plaza de Vera Cruz and sidewalks surrounding Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden were replaced with permeable pavers. This project also included the installation of permeable pavers in the sidewalks and roadway on the 700 and 800 blocks of N. Quarantina Street.

Funding for this project was provided in part through a grant agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board.