Low Impact Development Manual for Michigan - OSEH - University ...

Reinforced turf/gravel
Reinforced turf consists of interlocking structural units
that contain voids or areas for turf grass growth or
gravel and suitable for traffic loads and parking. Reinforced
turf units may consist of concrete or plastic and
are underlain by a stone and/or sand drainage system
for stormwater management.
Reinforced turf/gravel applications are excellent for
fire access lanes, overflow parking (Figure 7.36), and
occasional-use parking (such as at religious and athletic
facilities). Reinforced turf is also an excellent application
to reduce the required standard pavement width of
paths and driveways that must occasionally provide for
emergency vehicle access.
Figure 7.36
Reinforced turf used as overflow parking
Other
There are other proprietary products similar to pervious
asphalt and concrete, but they use clear binders so
that the beauty of the natural stone is visible. Material
strength varies, so some of these products are not suitable
for vehicular traffic Typical applications include
tree pits, walkways, plazas, and playgrounds. There are
also pervious pavements made using recycled tires.
Highly permeable paver
Source: Permapave
Applications
Pervious pavements have been widely applied in retrofit
situations when existing standard pavements are being
replaced. Care must be taken when using pervious
pavements in industrial and commercial applications
where pavement areas are used for material storage or
the potential for surface clogging is high due to pavement
use (see Infiltration BMP).
Parking areas
Porous asphalt lot with slow discharge to vegetated swale at
Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI
Walkways
Pervious pavement, both asphalt and concrete, has been
used in walkways and sidewalks. These installations
typically consist of a shallow (eight-inch minimum)
aggregate trench that is angled to follow the surface slope
of the path. In the case of relatively mild surface slopes,
the aggregate infiltration trench may be “terraced” into
level reaches in order to maximize the infiltration capacity,
at the expense of additional aggregate.
Porous asphalt pathway at Grey Towers National Historic
Site, Milford, PA
LID Manual for Michigan – Chapter 7 Page 246