Louisville to install environmentally friendly product in tree well areas

Public installation demonstration is Oct. 29 and 30

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2014) — The Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP), in conjunction with Louisville Metro Public Works, will be installing an innovative, cost-effective and environmentally friendly product, ‘Porous Pave’ in more than 50 tree well areas along Main St. and other areas in Louisville. The public is invited to an installation process on Oct. 29 and 30.

“The product is much less expensive than metal tree grates and is totally porous and allows all water, even in heavy rains, to get through to the root system and out of the combined sewer, which also helps meet MSD objectives,” Ken Herndon, Director of Operations for LDP.

‘Porous Pave’ is made of recycled tires, washed gravel and rubber resin and is mixed on site and applied like concrete. As a tree grows, the hole around it can easily be enlarged with a jigsaw making adjustments quick and cost effective.  In high traffic areas next to parking spaces, ‘Porous Pave’ allows for pedestrian foot traffic right up to the tree without compacting the root systems and eliminates a potential tripping hazard.

For example, 300 scrap tires are used to create 1,000-s.f. of 2 inches porous pavement.

The Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP) is an economic development agency comprised of the Louisville Downtown Development Corporation (LDDC) and the Louisville Downtown Management District (LDMD).