Sustainable Development at Whitemarsh Park Brings Lasting Benefits to Community and Environment

Today, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) honored the Board of Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County with its Sustainable Leadership Award in the category of Infrastructure Projects. The Board was recognized for constructing three parking lots from sustainable pervious concrete at the WhitemarshPark at Bloomfield Farm, the site of an active recreation facility for this Eastern Shore, Maryland community.

Maik Strecker, Area 1 Chairman for the PCA/Northeast Cement Shippers Association and District Sales Manager for Lafarge North America, represented PCA and presented the award to the Board at the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners meeting.

The PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards honor public officials around the country for their innovative use of concrete or cement-based products to achieve sustainable, long-lasting benefits. By using pervious concrete for the construction of the three parking lots at Whitemarsh Park, the Board ensured that these benefits would be realized not just immediately, but throughout the life of the structures.

Typical paving materials do not allow stormwater to permeate the surface. However, pervious concrete permits three to eight gallons of water per minute to pass through each square foot, which is instrumental in recharging groundwater supplies and reducing stormwater runoff. Using this technology also helps prevent harmful erosion and damaging deposits of sediment into rivers and streams.

Construction with pervious concrete is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a Best Management Practice (BMP) for stormwater management. In addition to environmental benefits, pervious concrete also provides unmatched durability, strength and is a cost-effective long-lasting pavement solution.

“Traditional stormwater management practices control the effects of excessive runoff such as flooding, erosion and rapid transmission of pollutants. Pervious concrete is unique in that it addresses runoff at the source by infiltrating rainfall directly into the developed area, similar to a pre-developed condition,” said project engineer Lee Edgar.

A great deal of planning, preparation and education went into the development of the Whitemarsh Park parking lots. Queen Anne’s County Department of Public Works (DPW) engineers conducted field investigations to be certain the conditions of the site would be appropriate for the use of pervious concrete and considered several parameters and specifications necessary to achieve a working design for the lots. Installation of the concrete was contracted to a National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) certified pervious concrete contractor.

In addition to careful planning and research, the DPW, the Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Promotion Council and Chaney Enterprises hosted a pilot project to gain Pervious Concrete Certification and participate in an installation demonstration. The certification workshop was the first NRMCA contractor certification testing held in the state of Maryland and more than 30 contractors attended.

“The Board is honored to accept this award and we are proud of the men and women who have worked so hard to make Whitemarsh Park a place that serves both the community and the environment,” said County Commissioner Carol Fordonski. “The Chesapeake Bay and her tributaries are an invaluable resource on a national scale, while her protection remains here at the local level.  Public outreach is a key component and we’re delighted with the interest and enthusiasm the project has received.”

To learn more about the Award and sustainable development benefits made possible by concrete, visit http://www.cement.org/newsroom/

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.