Creston Stormwater Retrofit & Playgorund

Rethinking Urban Green Infrastructure

Location: Portland, OR

Partners: Learning Landscapes Design (Michelle Mathis) and KPFF Civil Engineers (Josh Lighthipe)

Funding: Portland Green Streets Program & additional grants

At first glance, a schoolyard is simply a place for play. But at Creston Elementary, it has become something much more: a high-performance landscape that protects our local watershed while providing a vibrant, living laboratory for the next generation of environmental stewards.

Working alongside Learning Landscapes Design and KPFF Civil Engineers, Grasstains is proud to have built the Creston Early Childhood Stormwater Retrofit. This benchmark project proves that thoughtful, small-scale urban retrofits can deliver outsized ecological results.

Project Highlights & Impact
Massive Runoff Reduction: We successfully managed runoff for over 49,000 square feet of previously impervious surfaces, significantly reducing strain on Portland’s combined sewer system.

Year-Round Playability: By eliminating standing water issues, students now have reliable, year-round access to their outdoor play areas.

Sustainable Engineering: The site features two new shallow stormwater planters and sedimentation forebays specifically designed to capture and filter pollutants before they reach our rivers.

Artistic Functionality: We installed custom gabion seating benches and integrated artist-designed fencing to elevate the visual appeal of the schoolgrounds.

Hands-On Learning: The space doubles as an interactive classroom, featuring an on-site weather station and educational signage that turns every rain event into a lesson on the water cycle and habitat restoration.

Budget-Conscious Execution: Through efficient project management, the entire build was successfully completed under budget.

"Green infrastructure doesn't have to be hidden away. At Creston, it is front and center—proving that we can build beautiful, functional spaces that serve the city, the soil, and our students."