Consistently ranked as a top Spring Break destination, private developers and the Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of Panama City Beach, Fla., were looking for opportunities to reshape the City’s reputation as a “party town.” That opportunity came in nearly 35 acres of underused land ripe for redevelopment for Long Beach Lagoon, a $145 million mixed-use waterfront entertainment complex designed for a wider appeal. The massive Lagoon complex is impressive in the site and facility design – with restaurants, retail spaces, a rollercoaster, and a carousel. The price tag is equally impressive for the prime real estate needed to bring it to life.
To that point, the developers wanted to maximize their investment, making sure every possible inch of the Lagoon was dedicated to generating revenue. DRMP had a tall order to fill. In providing site design and public infrastructure improvement services for the complex, DRMP needed to design a stormwater management system that properly served the Lagoon without taking too much land to do it. The traditional stormwater detention and retention basins would need to be stationed on-site and would take up nearly six acres, about 20 percent of potential revenue-generating land. DRMP's solution: Take the stormwater management system underground using innovative permeable concrete pavers.
Underground Innovation
In researching with our team a proper stormwater system to handle the City’s needs, using underground permeable concrete pavers became the obvious choice. The pavers allowed us to maximize the land while meeting stormwater treatment and flood codes. They also add an aesthetically pleasing element to the Lagoon. The permeable pavers installed throughout the complex will essentially soak up rainwater through large gaps between the pavers, drawing it into a thick section of rock where the rainwater would be stored in large vault systems. As an added benefit, the pavers are sustainable and able to handle the high-volume foot traffic anticipated for the Lagoon.
In providing stormwater design services, DRMP's team also factored in an existing stormwater pond. If left in place, the pond could cause environmental issues and potentially flood neighboring cities. There was also an existing lake on the site.
Before we could address the site’s existing pond and lake, our team worked through hefty wetland permitting with nine different consultants and government entities, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Florida, to make sure regulatory policies were met.
After permit coordination, we moved on to our solution. The pond owned by the City and the Florida Department of Transportation had to be retrofitted with the existing lake. Our solution phased out the stormwater pond and called for the lake to be dug out and dredged. Doing this will vastly increase the capacity to alleviate flooding for upstream and downstream neighboring cities, aid the permeable concrete pavers, and provide better water quality.
Above Ground Design to Complete the Project
Incorporating the right aesthetics and navigating traffic to enter the Lagoon is just as important as the innovation happening in its underground stormwater system.
Along with foot traffic, the complex also will bring its fair share of motorists to the City’s already busy intersection at Front Beach and Thomas roads. We provided signalization and a roundabout to meet the demand of anticipated traffic and ease congestion at the major intersection. We also included two timber bridges that will better facilitate visitors throughout the complex and fit in with the Lagoon’s design aesthetic. Timber was the best material choice because of its long-term durability, cost-effectiveness, and low maintenance, among other benefits.
It’s not every day an engineer works on something as innovative as an underground stormwater system. DRMP is thankful to our clients for trusting our team’s expertise to help them optimize the Lagoon’s land and make it a memorable place for visitors. It has been an unforgettable experience for our team to work on a project that will be a great draw for the Panama City area and create a positive impact on their community.
