Q. What the heck are the deep, fenced-in pits on the sidewalks of the completed portion of Hennepin Avenue?
A. According to Adam Hayow, project engineer on the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction project, they are stormwater boxes, part of a green stormwater initiative designed to capture runoff and reduce the amount of stormwater entering lakes, streams and sewer systems. The pits will eventually be filled with soil below grade level and planted with trees and other vegetation, which allows the water to be filtered naturally on site. While bunnies might find them to be suitable nesting spots, they are not designed for that purpose. The city has installed ramps to help trapped wildlife escape from the pits if they fall in.
A NEW FEATURE FOR READERS, IN WHICH WE GIVE SHORT ANSWERS TO “SIMPLE” QUESTIONS.
