The Association of Washington Cities has presented the City of Tacoma with a 2014 Municipal Excellence Award in the “Making a Difference in Your Environment” category for the Cheney Stadium Sustainable Stormwater Project.

The project retrofitted the Cheney Stadium parking lot, reconstructed Clay Huntington Way, and revamped the stadium’s Tyler Street entrance over two off-seasons using green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff and improve access for bicycles and pedestrians. As a result, Cheney Stadium now has about six acres of permeable pavement, three rain gardens, sustainable landscaping, new pedestrian walkways and seven acres of new tree canopy. The ballpark also has two electric vehicle charging stations and LED lighting along Clay Huntington Way.

According to City of Tacoma staff, the project, which was finished this spring, serves as a model for commercial development demonstrating the effectiveness of green infrastructure elements, which can be installed for about half the cost of traditional stormwater improvements.

The award recognizes innovative and effective city programs that improve the quality of life in their communities.

Two years ago, the project earned the City of Tacoma a silver certification award from Greenroads, a sustainability rating system for roadway projects that encourages the use of holistic design and construction practices that are above and beyond conventional practice for environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the Cheney Stadium Sustainable Stormwater Project, click on the following links:

• Groundbreaking ahead for $1.5M Cheney Stadium sustainable stormwater project (Tacoma Daily Index, August 28, 2013)
• Year In Review: Enviro Award for Cheney Stadium Stormwater Project (Tacoma Daily Index, December 27, 2012)
• Tacoma City Council OKs $1.4M stormwater upgrades at Cheney Stadium (Tacoma Daily Index, October 17, 2012)
• $1.4M stormwater upgrades on deck for Cheney Stadium parking lot (Tacoma Daily Index, October 12, 2012)
• Cheney Stadium stormwater project earns enviro award (Tacoma Daily Index, May 16, 2012)
• Dept. of Ecology awards $6.2M for stormwater projects in Tacoma, Pierce County (Tacoma Daily Index, May 16, 2012)
• “Clay’s Day” planned for late Tacoma sports broadcaster (Tacoma Daily Index, April 3, 2012)
• Tacoma City Council approves Clay Huntington Way (Tacoma Daily Index, March 28, 2012)
• Clay Huntington fans could have their ‘way’ by month’s end (Tacoma Daily Index, March 15, 2012)
• Tacoma City Council committee OKs Clay Huntington Way (Tacoma Daily Index, March 7, 2012)
• ‘City of Destiny?’ Try ‘City of Electricity!’ Tacoma now boasts 12 electric vehicle charging stations (Tacoma Daily Index, February 6, 2012)
• Support grows for Clay Huntington Way (Tacoma Daily Index, January 26, 2012)
• $1.4M project to improve Cheney Stadium parking lot, streets, sidewalks (Tacoma Daily Index, January 4, 2012)
• Public hearing planned for Huntington Way (Tacoma Daily Index, December 29, 2011)
• Group wants street named after late Tacoma sports broadcaster Huntington (Tacoma Daily Index, December 12, 2011)
• City of Tacoma pursues grants for downtown, North Tacoma, Cheney Stadium stormwater projects (Tacoma Daily Index, November 21, 2011)

The City of Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium Sustainable Stormwater Project included two electric vehicle charging stations. (FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)

The City of Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium Sustainable Stormwater Project included improved access for cyclists and pedestrians. (FILE PHOTO BY TODD MATTHEWS)