Restoring Resilience to a Flood-Prone Community Park in Chester, PA

The City of Chester, an Environmental Justice (EJ) community in Delaware County within the Philadelphia metropolitan area, has long faced economic and environmental challenges. Veterans Memorial Park, a historic green space, holds potential for providing much-needed recreational opportunities for the community. However, frequent flooding, prolonged standing water, invasive species, and vegetation loss have led to the park's decline. Historically, an urban stream flowing through the park was piped due to urbanization, contributing to the current flooding issues. Runoff and groundwater are now directed through a combined sewer system, which regularly overflows due to inadequate capacity, inundating the park and exacerbating the situation with shallow groundwater. Over time, the park has been abandoned by the community. In response, HDR proposed a transformative solution: daylighting the piped stream and creating a large retention basin. The surrounding area will feature walking trails, scenic overlooks, picnic areas, gathering spaces, native plants, and educational signage. Funded by a grant from the PA State Revolving Fund (PENNVEST) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the project is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in April 2025. This presentation will share the project's journey from conception to execution, focusing on design and construction challenges, water quality improvements, and the community co-benefits resulting from the revitalization of Veterans Memorial Park.