Planting Roots at Hasenbank Stormwater Park
Branching Out is a roughly 15-foot sculpture of a tree-made of pipes and pipe fittings. The sculpture highlights a tree’s role in moving water through transpiration by using the materiality of pipes that also transport water and the organic form of the tree.
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Hasenbank Stormwater Park recently received another influx of local art as Aaron Dysart installed the first of his two sculptures, “Branching Out”, on December 2. His work joins two previous public art installations at Hasenbank Park, including “Gears” by Christopher E. Harrison and “Percolation Through the Prairie” by the design team at Barr Engineering Co. Dysart’s second sculpture, “Flowing Roots”, is expected to be placed onsite by spring 2025.
Branching Out is a roughly 15-foot sculpture of a tree-made of pipes and pipe fittings. The sculpture highlights a tree’s role in moving water through transpiration by using the materiality of pipes that also transport water and the organic form of the tree. Transpiration is how waters moves through a plant, and how it eventually evaporates through a plants leaves, stems, and flowers. Branching Out connects the soil to the sky through native plants while highlighting the engineering of stormwater infiltration on the site. Through this combination, visitors will see one of the hidden ways that the treated water will leave the park. This sculpture will be placed near the reveal on the park’s south end to further speak to the movement of water through the system.
As for the stormwater management aspect of the park, construction is substantially complete, and native vegetation began to establish over the fall months. SWWD expects to begin operating the pumps and infiltration basins in the spring. Once online, the system will intercept stormwater runoff that flows from Fish Lake into Powers Lake, significantly reducing nutrient loading and runoff volume to Powers Lake.
SWWD expects to host a grand opening event in the spring for local residents and officials to celebrate improvements at the park. More details to come in the spring newsletter.