Bangkok park holds a million gallons of rainwater to prevent flooding

The park features several characteristics that help it retain and redirect floodwater that would otherwise flow into city streets.

CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

One side of the park sits at an incline that helps funnel water into a giant container.

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The raised green roof directs runoff water through sloped rain gardens with native plants.

Wetlands at CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

The water then travels through an artificial wetland …

An illustration of CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

… and drains into a large retention pond that soaks it up.

An illustration of CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

The wetland also acts as a filtration system, where the water can be treated for toxic materials.

In the case of severe flooding, the retention pond can nearly double in size by expanding onto the park’s main lawn. In total, the park can hold up to a million gallons of water.

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Source: TED

Other sections of the park include an herb garden, trails, and a recreation area.

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A linear rain garden — which also absorbs water — lines the park’s perimeter to protect the outlying roads.

Water retention ponds at CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

Bangkok, a mega-city of 20 million people, will continue to face the threat of sea-level rise and flooding.

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While 11 acres only covers a small portion of the city, CU Park is a step toward a more resilient Bangkok.

An aerial view of CU Park in Bangkok, Thailand.Landprocess

Voraakhom is now designing an even larger park that will mitigate flooding like CU park. Located on the campus of Bangkok’s Thammasat University, it’s expected to open in 2019.