Proposed Strategies

Spring Park + Water Strategies

There are many different stormwater management tools and strategies the city of Denham Springs can employ in order to reduce flood risk in the downtown area and in the neighborhood south of Spring Park. One aspect of this plan is to conserve the existing wooded areas and widen and extend the floodplain by creating riparian buffers along a naturalized Long Slash Branch. Retention areas would also be added along Long Slash Branch and Bowman Street. The retention areas along Bowman Street will increase stormwater storage capacity to help protect critical city infrastructure located in the area. Green stormwater infrastructure, such as rain gardens and bioswales, comprise another component of this plan. These tools would be installed along shared-use paths and along streets such as River Road to help filter and store stormwater coming as runoff from streets. The city can also incentivize installing these techniques and others, such as rain water harvesting and green roofs, on private property in the neighborhood and throughout the community, to provide additional stormwater capacity. The final component would involve developing stricter building standards that require using flood resistant techniques, elevating structures, and installing green infrastructure tools. These adaptations can further reduce risk for those who choose to stay in the neighborhood.

Spring Park + Mobility Strategies

Expanding Spring Park presents an opportunity to expand downtown Denham Springs as a resilient, family-focused destination with something for everyone. The plan envisions greenways along Long Slash Branch that connect Antique Village and downtown Denham Springs to the proposed Spring Park amenities that support active, healthy lifestyles. The proposed circulation also connects to the city’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan. This can help the city achieve its goal to create more bike and pedestrian destinations and can help connect the area to the Triangle Business District along Florida Blvd and South Range. Doing so will increase access to open-space for the low and moderate income families in the area and where future mixed-use zoning will encourage affordable housing. (Denham Strong, 2017).

This proposed vision for Spring Park incorporates different types of trails in addition to greenways. According to Fall Fest 2019 surveys and responses, residents in Denham Springs want trails for walking, running, jogging, cycling, mountain biking, rollerblading/skating, and horseback riding. To accomplish this, the plan incorporates paved and unpaved trails to meet the needs of the different types of uses. Almost every resident surveyed about trails in the course of this project discussed the importance of shade and indicated a preference for trails in wooded, natural environments. Residents also wanted trails near the springs and other water features and recommended amenities, such as cooling misters, to be installed along pathways. Community members were very concerned about safety. Creating a specific destination for nonmotorists can help meet the expressed desire to have safe, well-lit pathways for pedestrians and cyclists to be away from vehicular traffic.

Spring Park + Active Lifestyles Strategies

Expanding Spring Park can increase community resilience by converting floodprone properties into amenities that support different aspects of community wellbeing. Partnering with local organizations will be key to developing programming that will activate the proposed spaces in this plan. Some amenities community members can enjoy, such as an amphitheater, will require event coordination and planning in order to reach their full potential.

Three categories emerged from resident survey responses that were used to organize proposed programming and

amenities into distinct nodes or zones: The first node is the education and history node. Residents requested spaces such as an outdoor classroom and trails with historical markers as ways to teach children about the history of their community and the environment in which they live. This node, located north of Long Slash Branch, includes the site of the natural springs for which the city was named, making it an ideal spot to commemorate the town’s history.

The second node incorporates amenities to support local arts and culture. In recovery planning and the Inland from the Coast community engagement processes, residents expressed interest in an outdoor amphitheater in their community to host live music. Constructing an amphitheater along Long Slash Branch can create venue space for local festivals and performances while increasing stormwater storage capacity. This node also includes open green space that can be used as overflow parking or vending space during town festivals. This node provides the opportunity for Denham Springs to expand its cultural offerings to festivals with multiple stages due to the close proximity of Antique Village. The city could also collaborate with the Arts Council to curate culturally relevant art in Spring Park.

The third node creates space for active recreation. It includes amenities such as hiking trails, fishing, recreational courts, a skate park, and a pet park. Fishing ranked number one among responses to surveys about what community

members do outside. The city may be able to partner with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries to keep the ponds adjacent to Long Slash Branch stocked with fish. This zone also incorporates a pet park next to the city’s Animal Control facility. This would enable city employees to use the pet park to care for the animals in Animal Control. At Fall Fest, residents specifically requested a pet park that accommodates small and large dogs as well as cats. The plan also includes open green space away from busy roads to allow children to run free and play lawn games.

This is an example of a floodable skate park that can be added during the third node of the active lifestyles implementation for the Spring Park expansion.

Floodable skate park during a major rain event.