Reedy River Wetland Restoration & Flood Mitigation
MKSK was engaged by the City of Greenville to design a signature city park in the center of the Reedy River Redevelopment Area. The central component of the Unity Park design is the restoration of the Reedy River. Over 95% of the park area is within the 100-year floodplain of the Reedy River and this highly urbanized reach of the river has seen significant degradation from decades of industrial development and rail operations. With the recent acquisition and demolition of flood prone industrial properties through City and FEMA resources, the opportunity to create a healthier river environment through the development of Unity Park was a universal desire identified through the community-driven park planning process.
To reconnect this incised stretch of the Reedy River with its floodplain, restoration has included the benching of the riverbank to reduce flood velocities and allow the settling of sediment as floodwaters slowly recede. With a nearly 50% reduction in impervious area from the park’s pre-development condition and significant terrestrial habitat improvements including standing snags, habitat logs, and the widening of the re-forested riparian buffer, the Reedy River corridor is positioned for greatly improved ecological health and water quality.
The Reedy River is at the geographic heart of Unity Park, provides the connective tissue linking Greenville’s westside neighborhoods and downtown attractions, serves as the core scenic amenity of the park, and is an invaluable natural asset to be protected. The restoration of the Reedy River, its tributaries and the surrounding wetlands is a central component of the Unity Park improvements. Through in-channel work, riparian improvements, and the careful restoration of open channels and wetlands, Unity Park, completed in 2022, showcases a healthier river corridor, improved terrestrial and aquatic habitat, proven measures to quickly recover from flood events, and a signature recreational and educational asset for the community.
In addition to the restoration of the Reedy River, the design of Unity Park included considerations for withstanding the hazards associated with flooding events and for recovering quickly after such events. Examples of these considerations included the elevation of critical infrastructure and amenities on to higher ground, engineered soils to allow for rapid infiltration of stormwater into the soil profile, subtle contouring of the landscape to provide retreat routes for receding floodwaters, elevated splice connections for lighting and electrical infrastructure, non-painted finishes for site furnishings, and the anchoring of in-channel habitat features to withstand high velocity flows.
On January 4, 2023, the Greenville area received significant precipitation which resulted in an 8-ft. rise of the Reedy River. Nearly one-third of Unity Park was inundated by floodwaters. Within 24 hours of the peak flood, the waters had receded from the park into the river channel and Unity Park was fully open and fully utilized by the public. Through the rigorous design and engineering of features to improve the ability of park to withstand and quickly recover from flood events (and the prompt response of Greenville’s park maintenance crews), the resilience of Unity Park was tested twice with significant flooding in the first two years of operation and performed successfully.
For more information on the Reedy River Redevelopment Area & Unity Park project, click here.