The City of Pasadena Public Works Department invites community members to participate in two upcoming public outreach events highlighting the Brookside Park Stormwater Capture Project, an initiative designed to improve regional water quality, enhance local water supply, and integrate nature‑based solutions into the Arroyo Seco watershed.
By News Desk
Located just south of the Rose Bowl in Parking Lot I adjacent to Brookside Park, the project will capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater and dry‑weather runoff from more than 1,100 acres of the city. By diverting flows from the Seco Street Drain through a series of underground treatment components, including a pretreatment unit and a 5.10‑acre‑foot subsurface infiltration gallery, the system will help recharge Pasadena’s Raymond Basin and return a portion of treated water to the Arroyo Seco Channel to support ecosystem health. Above‑ground improvements such as shade trees and vegetated bioswales will further reduce surface‑runoff pollution and enhance the surrounding landscape.
– Interactive Site Walk: Friday, April 17
The first event, an interactive outdoor experience, will take place on Friday, April 17, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Brookside Park, Parking Lot I, 360 North Arroyo Boulevard. Participants will be able to walk the project area, view displays illustrating potential stormwater‑capture features, and learn how the system will improve water quality in both the Arroyo Seco and the Los Angeles River. Guided walking groups will depart every 15 minutes, allowing attendees to join at their convenience.
Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton is expected to attend to meet with residents and show support for this major infrastructure and sustainability effort. The event is designed to make technical concepts accessible through hands‑on engagement and to encourage community dialogue about the project’s environmental benefits.
– Design‑Focused Meeting: Wednesday, April 22
The second event, the project’s fourth public outreach meeting, will be held on Wednesday, April 22, from 3:00 to 6:30 pm in the Mediterranean Room at the Brookside Golf Club, 1133 Rosemont Avenue. This design‑focused session will showcase the refined project plans and demonstrate how nature‑based solutions will be incorporated to enhance the parking lot and improve surface‑water quality. Attendees can explore the proposed bioswale habitat, learn about its role in stormwater management, and understand the broader watershed benefits.
Earth Day–themed activities and refreshments will be provided. Parking is available in Lots CH, D, and along Rosemont Avenue.
Project Funding
The Brookside Park Stormwater Capture Project is led by the Pasadena Department of Public Works with funding from the Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP) Measure W, which provides dedicated local funding to increase water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health.
Pasadena’s proactive actions to enhance our water independence should be of the highest priority. With the current situation with the MWD and the Colorado river allocations we can no longer count on them to enhance our supplies. If you like drinking, bathing and having home grown food – Support.