Across many US towns and cities, stormwater basins tell a familiar story. Once built as practical pieces of infrastructure, these now sit boxed in, overgrown and forgotten, adding little value to their surroundings. These overlooked spaces prompt an important question: could we expect more from the environments we create? With more thoughtful design, these stormwater features could do far more than manage run-off – they could connect people with nature, improve well-being and strengthen communities.
Flooding, climate change and resource scarcity are putting new pressures on our communities. These challenges make climate-resilient design more critical than ever – and they demand a shift in how we shape the built environment. Land development will always be necessary, yet how we plan and shape the landscape determines the quality and lasting impact of the places we create. By integrating stormwater management into the placemaking process, we can transform what was once a hidden yet necessary utility into a visible, valued feature that enhances the context of its surroundings.
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From obligation to opportunity
For decades, stormwater design has been solely guided by compliance. Detention ponds and other stormwater features – such as infiltration basins and swales – are often added late in the planning process to satisfy regulatory requirements once the site layout is largely set. The predictable result is leftover pockets of land that are difficult to access, unattractive and challenging to maintain.
The time is now to transform this old approach. Developers, planners and designers are beginning to rethink stormwater design – not just as a regulatory requirement, but as an opportunity. When considered early, these features can form the backbone of a site’s open space, shaping its character and creating opportunities for recreation, biodiversity and connection – giving these often unseen features a broader purpose. In doing so, they become amenities that are more integrated within the public realm, enhancing value and quality of life while still performing their essential function.
Designing for sense of place
Creating a sense of place with stormwater begins with a shift in mindset. Rather than relegating stormwater features to overlooked spaces, we can view them as important contributors to a sense of place within landscapes. Stormwater basins, swales and wetlands can soften built environments and introduce natural diversity, while creating spaces that are visually appealing, supportive of local wildlife and pleasant for people to experience.
A strong example of this approach can be seen at Rodney Cook Sr Park in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood. Once an area prone to severe flooding and disinvestment, the site was transformed into a 16-acre park that captures and stores stormwater while creating a vibrant public destination. The design, shaped through collaboration between the city, local organisations and residents, combines flood protection with playgrounds, trails and green spaces, showing how infrastructure can enhance regeneration and community spirit. Projects like these demonstrate what is possible when stormwater management is considered as part of a broader design vision that brings together disciplines, stakeholders and communities from the start.
Achieving this kind of outcome starts with collaboration. When engineers, landscape architects, environmental scientists and planners work together from the outset, stormwater becomes a defining feature that shapes a place’s identity – not a limitation. This early integration sparks creativity and ensures that stormwater features become defining elements of the built environment.
A new way forward
The opportunity now is to redefine stormwater as an asset in land development – adaptable to rural, suburban and even dense urban areas. Moving away from the traditional model involves three key shifts:
- Embed stormwater management in early planning so it helps shape the site layout and use.
- Foster collaboration among communities, planners, landscape architects, developers and site civil engineers to unlock multifunctional, resilient landscapes.
- Adopt a new mindset, seeing stormwater not as a liability, but as a catalyst for better places.
Imagine a development where stormwater features double as green corridors and walking trails, or where landscaped rain gardens shape the identity of a neighborhood. These ideas are not just futuristic concepts; they are entirely achievable when we embrace stormwater management as a central element of placemaking.
As practitioners within the built environment, we have a responsibility to create places that stand the test of time, meeting the evolving needs of the community and anticipating how climate change will shape the way we live and build. Moreover, our legacy will not be measured by how effectively we manage stormwater run-off, but by how successfully we create places that foster a sense of civic pride, connection and resilience, long after the ribbon cutting.
As public awareness of stormwater issues reach new heights, driven by ever-increasing headlines of extreme weather events, flash floods and polluted waterways, we stand at a critical crossroads in global construction where the only option is change. Stormwater can no longer be shoehorned into developments as an afterthought – this essential infrastructure must be embraced as a valued community asset, delivering multifaceted benefits now and for generations to come.
