The Little River, located west of I-35 between SW 19th Street and SW 4th Street, faced significant challenges. Severe erosion had exposed the sanitary sewer lines with aerial crossings, and the erosion was threatening to undermine Janeway Road. To make matters worse, in 2013, this area was devastated by an F5 tornado that ravaged the City of Moore.
In response to these challenges, the City partnered with Meshek to design a comprehensive solution. This included channel, utility, roadway, and pedestrian trail improvements, as well as the construction of a detention pond to protect nearby neighborhoods from flooding. Through innovative design, the detention pond and more than a mile of the Little River channel were approved for construction under a Nationwide 404 Permit, saving the City considerable time, energy, and money.
The WSB team also played a crucial role in preparing nearby land for a multi-use redevelopment project called The Curve. This project aimed to replace a former trailer park demolished by the 2013 tornado. The goal was to blend functionality and aesthetics while creating a statement of pride and resilience in the wake of devastation. The design featured a large detention pond that complemented the scenic nature of its surroundings, the widening and armoring of the Little River channel with decorative block walls, and the addition of concrete walking trails, pedestrian bridges, and state-of-the-art splash pad and playground areas. The cohesive design coordinated throughout the mile-long channel, redevelopment area, and detention pond to create a unified park atmosphere.
This ambitious project was funded through a HUD Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) following the Moore tornado of 2013. It is part of the City’s multi-phased Little River Park Plan, addressing flooding caused by the Little River and successfully protecting the sanitary sewer lines and nearby neighborhoods from further erosion and flooding. The redevelopment of The Curve provided a multi-use space that blends functionality and aesthetics, creating a cohesive park atmosphere and a statement of pride and resilience for the community.
