Title
Florida Section of the American Public Works Association (NB)
Explanation
In May GRU received the 2004 Environmental Project of the Year Award from the Florida Section of the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the Chapman's Pond and Nature Trails project.
This project was inspired by local bird watchers who frequented a storage pond in an inaccessible area west of the Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility (KWRF). GRU recognized this as an opportunity to partner with local groups and create an improved viewing facility for community enjoyment. GRU workers constructed a berm and viewing platform and the pond was officially named Chapman's Pond in honor of Frank M. Chapman, a famous and well-published naturalist and ornithologist who spent much time in this area in the late 19th century cataloging birds.
Based on the positive feedback received by GRU about Chapman's Pond, GRU elected to expand the public access concept into a larger passive nature park known as Chapman's Pond and Nature Trails and integrate it into its reclaimed water program. The 34-acre park adjacent to the KWRF created natural appearing streams and ponds, a marked and landscaped trail system, picnic facilities and enhanced habitat for wildlife. The water features at the park currently provide the capacity to recycle up to one million gallons per day of highly treated effluent from the Kanapaha plant. The environmentally responsible use of reclaimed water eliminates the need to use our precious drinking water resources for site irrigation.
The park is constantly "evolving" due to the involvement of community organizations such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and University of Florida fraternities, with the assistance of GRU staff, executing numerous enhancement projects such as bird houses, gazebos and picnic tables.
GRU's Water/Wastewater engineers, KWRF staff, Vegetation Management staff and the City's and County's Public Works Departments' staff have all been instrumental in contributing to the project's success.
Recommendations
Recognition of the Environmental Project of the Year Award received by GRU for the Chapman's Pond Project.
Drafter
Prepared by: Robert O. McVay, AGM, Water and Wastewater Systems
Submitted by: Michael L. Kurtz, General Manager