Stormwater as civic and ecological urban framework

This paper describes historic and contemporary examples of integrated urban water resource systems and includes a brief critique of projects that demonstrate, to varying degrees, the integration of flood control, ecological and civic functions. it proposes the development of a civic ecology that brings together the natural and urban realms in an urban stormwater framework that is beautiful, functional and environmentally sound. The paper will be divided into three parts. The first part describes the evolution of American cities from a dense urban fabric in the 19th century, to a contemporary low-density pattern of suburbs permeated with open space. Typical patterns of development are described, including the role of parks, open space and stormwater management in new suburbs, and existing historic and contemporary examples of urban stormwater management that integrate function, aesthetics and ecological concerns. The paper's second part tells of a series of built multi-functional urban stormwater projects that integrate drainage structures into cities' civic, recreational and ecological fabrics. Finally, concepts of how multi-functional components can be combined as an integral part of stormwater and civic networks are described and illustrated through a proposed surface stormwater system that is part of the redevelopment of the 4,50D-acre (1,817-hectare) former Stapleton International Airport in central Denver, Colorado.