{One of the reused concrete weirs at the Willow Patch Project, Cazenovia, NY. Image: Source}
Rather then contributing to the development of “Everywhere USA” retail centers, the Willow Patch Project in Cazenovia New York represents innovation in material resource and environmental design which Landscape Architects should be championing.
The site, owned by The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation and funded by the Central New York Community Foundation used local labor and reuse of local concrete materials injecting money into its own community, while also giving second life to demolished sidewalks.
The project was designed and managed by a team comprised largely from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Faculties of Landscape Architecture and Engineering, led by Professor Matthew Potteiger and Tobiah Horton.
Willow Patch consists of 4 basins for the retention of stormwater. The basins are separated by weirs made from sidewalks from where the actual stormwater originates. The broken concrete replaces rip rap in an energy dissipation apron at the terminus of the stormdrain. A forebay was created, which is supporting growth of plants, frogs, and slowly filling up with sediment. This sediment will be tested to determine exactly what is being kept out of the rated trout stream, The Chittenango Creek.
Willow shoots which are found throughout the project, will grow vigorously producing many very straight branches ideal for basket or fence weaving. Willow can also be used as a biomass fuel - it is a carbon neutral, meaning that the amount of CO2 that the plant absorbs during its growning life is equal to the amount released by its harvest, transport, and incineration.
{Energy Dissipation Apron and Forebay at Willow Patch Project. Image: Source}
{Stormdrain empties into forbey and Energy Dissipation Apron, comprised of concrete originated from the pipes storwater source in town. Image: Source}