This Schoolyard Is Smarter Than It Looks

Stormwater project at Aeolian Elementary merges flood control with green space, redefining urban infrastructure use

30 Jun 2025

Los Angeles County has approved a plan to install an underground stormwater capture system beneath the schoolyard of Aeolian Elementary in West Whittier, Los Nietos, marking a shift in how public infrastructure is integrated into urban life.

The project, approved in June 2025, aims to reduce flood risk by intercepting and filtering stormwater runoff before it flows into the San Gabriel River. Rather than occupying industrial zones, the system will sit beneath playing fields and green space, allowing the school and wider community to continue using the grounds above.

“This is about more than runoff,” said Mark Pestrella, Director of LA County Public Works. “It’s about redefining how infrastructure and community can coexist.”

Funded through Measure W under the Safe Clean Water Program, the initiative reflects a growing trend toward dual-use public assets. The county’s approach uses limited urban space to meet both environmental and social needs, especially in areas where land is scarce and infrastructure gaps persist.

The Aeolian project is being held up as a model for other municipalities. By embedding water management systems beneath public amenities, officials hope to improve storm resilience while directing investment into underserved neighbourhoods. Similar strategies could be deployed in parks, plazas, and other high-use civic areas.

Still, questions remain over long-term maintenance and the system’s ability to cope with more extreme weather events. Engineers and planners are monitoring the project closely for signs it could be replicated elsewhere, particularly in cities facing the dual pressures of climate adaptation and land constraints.

The initiative adds to a broader effort by Los Angeles County to modernise stormwater management without sacrificing community access. If successful, it may offer a new standard for infrastructure that serves both environmental function and public benefit.