The Louisiana Avenue Regional Detention Basin is the first of its kind in Calcasieu Parish

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Flooding is a chronic problem in some areas of Calcasieu Parish, and finally drainage is what residents say is already helping.

It’s a scenic spot with benches, landscaping and a three-quarter mile walking trail, as well as decorative lighting. But it’s not just for relaxation.

It is a catch basin that collects excess water from Contraband Bayou during heavy rains.

Jennifer Hobbs is the drainage engineer behind the project.

“It will hold about 60 million gallons. It will fill about seven and a half football fields with a foot of water. “Some residents who have suffered years of street flooding and even water in their homes have already noticed an improvement,” she said.

Calcasieu Parish engineer Nicholas Johnson says it was designed to handle a rain event like the one in May 2021.

“The problem that this alleviates is that it siphons the water away from the streets instead of letting it run up the contraband bayou over people’s yards and onto the streets,” Johnson said.

Not only will this detention center remove a lot of water from the streets, but it will also open up some recreational opportunities for people.

There were quite a few people breaking down the door, so we’re happy that’s the case. So when we were landscaping, we created a series of wetlands to attract native species so there are even more cool things to see. It is also good for water quality. If you can walk from the Contraband Bayou side, the water is a little darker and murkier. You’ll see it’s a lot clearer here because of the way we built the pool,” Hobbs said.

And at least four more pools are planned in other areas of Calcasieu Parish.

Since there is already an alligator in the pool, swimming is not possible. The public can visit the facility from morning to evening. Community officials say people in the neighborhood have been eagerly awaiting the opening.

You can find further details about the project here.

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