StormTree 1 – Pleasant Valley Parkway

Location: 41.835781°N 71.44301°W
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Site Description: Located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Providence, this site is a tree box filter designed by StormTree. A tree box filter is an underground pre-cast concrete box that fills with stormwater during rain events. The soil within the box removes pollutants from incoming stormwater, while the tree provides additional community benefits such as heat reduction and beautification.

Stormwater enters the site through a storm drain or catch basin along Pleasant Valley Parkway. Once the basin is full, it pours into the tree box filter, where it accumulates and ponds. The soil acts as a filtering mechanism to clean pollutants from the stormwater as it drains into the ground.

When the system reaches full capacity, excess stormwater will drain through the overflow pipe located within the tree box filter, which prevents roadway flooding. The captured stormwater should absorb into the soil within 24-48 hours after a rainstorm.

Photo-Video Tips: Stand near the storm drain on Pleasant Valley Parkway and document with a video whether the stormwater is flowing into the drain. Also, document that the tree box filter is full of water, draining properly, and not causing roadway flooding.