Pasadena Approves Eaton Wash Stormwater Capture and Park Project

The Pasadena City Council has approved the Eaton Wash Stormwater Capture Project, an initiative designed to convert an underutilized parcel into public open space while enhancing local water management. Situated south of Del Mar Boulevard on the eastern edge of the wash, the project involves installing subterranean infrastructure capable of diverting, treating, and storing water from the channel before returning it to the waterway.

At the surface level, the site will be activated with passive park amenities, including a community garden, a dog park, and a new pedestrian bridge connecting the site to Eaton Blanche Park across the channel.

Funding for the initiative includes $2.3 million from Los Angeles County's Measure W for design and engineering, alongside $6.5 million in construction funding committed by Caltrans. Construction could break ground as early as July 2027. Pasadena is also exploring similar stormwater infrastructure along the Arroyo Seco, though that venture faces legal hurdles.

For local stakeholders, the project highlights how municipal stormwater mandates are increasingly leveraged to fund public realm improvements and infrastructure upgrades.