This study investigates cost-effective, low-impact strategies for improving stormwater management in urban environments, using the City of Terre Haute, Indiana, as a case study. The primary novelty lies in its integrative, multidisciplinary approach combining stakeholder interviews, water quality sampling, and urban green space assessments to evaluate how existing public infrastructure, particularly parks, can be leveraged for stormwater control without major new construction.
Our methodology involved three interconnected components. First, we conducted interviews with municipal engineers and faculty at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT) to identify existing stormwater management challenges and limitations in staffing and maintenance capacity. These insights informed us of the selection of sampling locations and the focus of site inspections. Second, stormwater runoff samples were collected from both green (e.g., vegetated swales, permeable surfaces) and grey infrastructure (e.g., impervious roads and parking lots) on City of Terre Haute and RHIT’s campus following a rain event. Comparative analysis of runoff quality showed lower pollutant levels from green infrastructure sites. Third, we performed field inspections at public parks and nature centers throughout Terre Haute, evaluating physical features such as drainage pathways, vegetation, infrastructure condition, and visible signs of pollution. These observations confirmed that many public green spaces are already serving, albeit informally, as stormwater catchment zones.
The key finding of this research is that existing urban parks and green spaces can be retrofitted to function as intentional stormwater infrastructure through minor upgrades such as vegetative buffers, improved grading, or expanded infiltration areas requiring minimal financial or operational burden. This passive, decentralized strategy aligns with the city’s limited capacity for large-scale infrastructure investment and provides a sustainable, scalable model for similar mid-sized communities.
