Green Infrastructure Tour

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What is Green Infrastructure?

Green infrastructure helps our community manage stormwater the way
nature intended by capturing and utilizing rainwater where it falls.

Green infrastructure slows,absorbs, and filters stormwater before it
enters and overflows Kansas City’s sewer system.

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How does it work?

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​Native plants, as shown below, have longer roots, which absorb more rain water than grasses

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The differences between not having and having Green Infrastructure.

Without green
infrastructure, all of
the stormwater goes
down the storm drain,
adding more pollution
to our waterways

With green infrastructure,
more water is absorbed
underground, lessening
the impact of pollution
from stormwater runoff

Green infrastructure is a long-term solution that looks beautiful above
ground and works wonders below. It enhances our neighborhoods and
parks and protects our environment.

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What are the benefits?

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Before Green Infrastructure: Parking lot at KC Water on 63rd Street

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After Green Infrastructure: Parking lot at KC Water on 63rd Street

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Types of Green Infrastructure

Permeable pavers mimic the way natural land absorbs
water. They can alleviate the negative effects of
stormwater runoff to benefit homeowners, builders
and the community at large.

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Types of Green Infrastructure

Pervious concrete can effectively capture and
store stormwater runoff. This allows the water to
percolate into the ground; replenishing
groundwater supplies.

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Types of Green Infrastructure

Porous asphalt

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Curb cuts allow for stormwater to flow off the
surface of the parking lot and back into nature. The
stormwater will get absorbed back into the ground.

Types of Green Infrastructure

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Types of Green Infrastructure

Manufactured inlets collect
stormwater off impervious surfaces,
such as parking lots and driveways,
and send the water into a bioswale.

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Bioretention Basin

Types of Green Infrastructure

The plants absorb and store
excess stormwater within
layers of rock and soil. A
buried underground pipe
drains the excess water,
controlling the slow release
of water back to the sewer
system.

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Rain Garden

Types of Green Infrastructure

Rain gardens filled with native plants can
absorb much more stormwater than regular
grasses, due to the longer roots of the native
plants.

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Bioswale

Bioswales are landscape features that collect
polluted stormwater runoff, soak it into the ground,
and filter out pollution. Bioswales are similar to rain
gardens but are designed to capture much more
runoff coming from larger areas of impervious
surfaces like streets and parking lots.

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