Students returning to Myers Park this year were greeted not just by new classes and familiar faces, but by something noticeably different: the Quad. In place of muddy patches and flooded walkways, there are now stretches of rocks, new grass, and visible efforts to reduce the flooding the campus has faced. These changes are part of a drainage project supported by the PTSO completed over the summer.
For years, rain left standing water across walkways and seating areas, especially in the lower areas of the Quad. “[The flooding was] caused by the clay soil and the fact that you guys walk over it every single day, which compresses it,” explained APES teacher Ms. Zornow. “It basically becomes like cement.” That compression makes it nearly impossible for water to soak into the ground. In response, the school added drainage systems, including underground systems and, surface level changes designed to direct and absorb stormwater.
“Usually there’s some kind of pipe that will take [rainwater] away to a larger pipe which… feeds directly into our streams and, creeks and, rivers.” Ms. Zornow said, explaining how storm drains work in Charlotte. “It doesn’t go to a treatment plant.” “You dig a pit down and then you put down gravel and then perforated tubing, which has holes in the very top of it. Then, you put more gravel, and it looks like ground. You’re walking on grass, but that’s sucking up a ton of water and carrying it away when it does rain.” While she is waiting to see how the new system performs during the first storm, Ms. Zornow is optimistic. “I’m sure it does [help], because somebody came in and evaluated it and said that this was the best way to do it.”
One of the most visible changes is the addition of rocks in areas where grass struggles to grow. “It will create more porous spaces which will allow more water to go into the ground quickly,” Zornow said, noting that rocks were placed around troublesome walkways. “So I expect, especially in certain walkways, you won’t have the huge lake and puddles that you have to traverse.” However it has changed walking patterns through the quad. I shared with Ms. Zornow that I’d already heard some students stating that they find the rocks more difficult to walk on and that some people have even tripped over them. Ms. Zornow agreed. “Smaller rocks, like gravel are easier to walk on but not as pleasant to look at.”
One factor that has made flooding worse over time is the loss of mature trees around our campus. “Trees suck up an enormous amount of water,” said Zornow. “If it’s a slow, steady rian, they will suck up an enormous amount of water because they are doing photosynthesis—they need to pull that up into the leaves.” “If you’re in high-traffic areas, such as the Quad, it is hard to have trees survive because you’re walking on those roots and compacting the soil above it. So you have to have really hardy trees.” While some new trees have been planted over the years, the challenge remains in keeping grass alive in areas where students frequently walk. “It needs time to establish,” she said, pointing out parts of campus that are blocked off to give new grass a chance to grow.
According to Zornow, the hill outside the SET building is still in need of attention. “It’s eroding quickly, because kids walk on it, the grass isn’t staying, and at the very bottom of the hill is sand which is from erosion.” While the quad may never have the perfect grass of drainage, the new systems are a step toward a safer, more functional outdoor environment. “It’s a high traffic area,” said Zornow. “The quad will never have great grass. But the changes they made should help.”