Upzoned Are Sponge Cities the Flood Control Fix We Need?
Aug 27, 2025
In this insightful discussion, John Pattison, a community builder with Strong Towns, shares his expertise on the innovative concept of sponge cities. He explores how these urban designs, inspired by nature, aim to tackle flooding and enhance stormwater management. The conversation dives into the balance between ambitious infrastructure and gradual improvements. Pattison highlights real-world examples, like Copenhagen, showcasing how integrating green space can lead to resilient communities. This blend of nature and urban planning is positioned as a promising solution for future cities.
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Nature And Engineering Combined
- Copenhagen combined nature-based and engineered features to store and slowly release stormwater across the city.
- The approach treats stormwater infrastructure as both resilience and placemaking, delivering recreational and ecological benefits.
Kansas City Tactical Retrofit
- Abby described a Kansas City project that cost about $20 million as an alternative to a $100 million pipe solution.
- The smaller project combined underground storage and green features to cut three feet of flooding down to inches.
Prefer Tactical Incremental Projects
- Prioritize incremental, tactical projects that target problematic spots rather than attempting citywide moonshots.
- Test small interventions, measure outcomes, then scale the combined projects to create cumulative impact.
