The project: Fireman’s Field serves as a venue for community events like the annual Oyster Festival and is a vital training and competition
ground for the local fire department. However, the site, which consisted of deteriorating asphalt, faced frequent flooding and required significant remediation. The renovation provided open space, landscaping, and environmentally friendly stormwater management practices.

The goal: Enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal and improve stormwater management to alleviate flooding. Additionally, complete the project on a tight schedule.

Design approach: The City of Oyster Bay collaborated with engineers, contractors, and the fire department to develop a design that balanced green space with functionality for the fire department while maximizing parking capacity and improving stormwater storage and drainage.

Challenge: Prioritize green spaces. Solution: The design team created a thoughtful landscape plan, which included a tree-lined pathway leading to downtown and the nearby bay, along with additional green areas featuring trees and shrubbery.

Challenge: Improve flooding and stormwater management through environmentally sustainable solutions. Solution: The project incorporated innovative porous asphalt for effective stormwater treatment and bioswales were incorporated to treat stormwater runoff. Engineers also elevated the site to rise above the groundwater table, addressing the varying topography on the north and south sides of the site. This was achieved by using stone fill, which not only elevated the parking lot but also served as the base for the porous asphalt that treats stormwater as it filters through the surface.

Challenge: Accommodate the fire department’s training needs. Solution: The section of the lot used by the fire department for training was designed for efficient drainage. The fireman’s muster area received a specialized section with conventional asphalt, carefully graded to meet specific requirements for pitch and slope.

Challenge: The site remained in use by the city and community during the renovation. Solution: The project team skillfully partitioned the site, allowing sections to remain operational while the rest of the work proceeded on a tight schedule.

The outcome: In addition to restoring the parking lot, the project served as a beautification effort, enhancing the entrance to the park along the harbor. The newly designed walkway is well-lit and features thoughtful landscaping, providing both aesthetic appeal and a sense of safety for pedestrians as they move through the area. Additionally, weekly on-site meetings and prompt resolutions to issues raised by the fire department ensured that the project was finished ahead of schedule and in time for the annual Oyster Festival.