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Abstract
In the past, downtown Evansville has struggled finding a cost effective solution to the
problems created from 2 billion gallons of combined sewage overfiows every year. With this
becoming a worsening problem and bringing with it mandates from the EPA, the city has
implemented an incentive program where green infrastructure projects are given funds at a rate of
$0.20 per annual gallon to divert the stormwater from going into the combined sewer. Through the
city's VOICE initiative, the Learning Garden was proposed to be built by the C.K. Newsome
Center to provide the city with a community gathering space, in addition to capturing all of the
rainfall on the site, as well as the runoff from the parking lot and surrounding streets. The site will
consist of an arbor leading to a pavilion that will provide a shaded seating area for the guests along
with a location for community events such as outdoor classrooms, small weddings, and othei
outdoor events. The arbor and pavilion were analyzed using both hand calculations and Rapid
Interactive Structural Analysis (RISA). International Building Code (IBC 2012), National Design
Specifications (NDS 2005) For Wood Construction, and American Society of Civil Engineers
Minimum Load Design for Structures (ASCE 7-10) were aides used to help analyze these
structures. The stormwater diversion components of this project include a bioswale that directs the
runoff to two infiltration trenches, new inlets that will capture the street runoff, rain gardens and
raised beds that will offer the community a chance to grow and harvest a variety of crops. In order
to know if all of the stormwater was capable of being collected, different scenarios where modeled
in Storm and Sanitary Analysis (SSA). The garden showcases a rainwater harvesting system
composed of rain barrels, underground storage tanks, and hand pumps. The system will capture
over 2 million annual gallons of stormwater runoff. The Learning Garden and green infrastructure
is estimated to cost approximately $200,000 to build and the revenue generated from the water
retention project fund is estimated at $365,000. Any additional funds, over and above the construction costs, will be used to enhance site aesthetics and add other green adornments, such as a
Conimunitree (Wi-Fi tree), recycled plastic benches made from donated bottle caps, and garden art
made from upeycled materials.