Roger Williams Park – Carousel

Location: 41.78321°N 71.41436°W
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Site Description: Located near the Carousel in Roger Williams Park, this site is a bioretention basin designed to capture stormwater runoff and filter out pollutants before they reach the nearby ponds. Stormwater enters the site through a curb cut at the north end of the Carousel parking lot. If the basin is not functioning properly, stormwater can flow past the openings in the curb and into the nearby storm drain, which leads directly to the ponds unfiltered and uncleaned. The basin is filled with soil, plants, and grass that act as a natural filtering mechanism to clean pollutants from the stormwater. When the basin reaches full capacity, excess stormwater drains through an overflow structure. The captured stormwater should absorb into the soil within 24-48 hours after a rainstorm.

Photo-Video Tips: Stand near the curb cut opening at the edge of the Carousel parking lot to capture video of whether stormwater is flowing through the curb cut opening or into the storm drain. Also, capture video of whether stormwater is accumulating in the bioretention basin itself and whether it is draining properly.

Reports 1 to 5 of 15

Observation on 11/21/2024: 1:52pm -
Full Report

How recently did it rain: Raining at the time

How heavy was that rain: Moderate Rain

Is anything preventing water from flowing into the system (e.g., debris, trash, vegetation): Yes

Is there standing water in the system: Yes

Notes/Comments:

The curb cut opening was clogged with leaves, so stormwater was pooled outside the curb cut and mostly flowing into the storm drain. My note about standing water in the system refers to the pooling water outside the curb cut; there was no standing water in the bioretention basin.