A daylighted creek. A 26-acre community park.
A resilient approach to flooding and sea-level rise.

The blueways, greenways and 26-acre park in the redeveloped Tidewater Gardens might not look like the solution to some of the city’s biggest flood-control and sea-level-rise challenges.

But look closer.

This park will do double duty to reduce the flooding that has inundated parts of Tidewater Gardens for decades by:

• Removing homes and businesses from the flood plain
• Storing 10 million cubic feet of stormwater runoff
• Daylighting Newton’s Creek
• Creating new outdoor park space
• Controlling upstream runoff from the transformation area
• Filtering polluted stormwater to protect the Elizabeth River
• Preserving over 100 mature shade trees
• Expanding Norfolk’s growing network of pedestrian and bicycle paths

New daylight for old Newton’s Creek

When Norfolk was settled in 1680, a waterway called Newton’s Creek ran right through what is today’s Tidewater Gardens and Harbor Park. If you’ve ever seen a baseball game there, the old creek ran from near the picnic area to first base and out into the Elizabeth River. As downtown Norfolk grew, the creeks that ran through it were all filled in to create more developable land. That included Newton’s Creek, which was covered and re-routed through an underground storm drain.

By the 1950s, a portion of Tidewater Gardens was built right on top of Newton’s Creek. Mother Nature wasn’t fooled. As the years rolled on and more land was developed, the underground drain couldn’t handle the flow of water. Tidewater Gardens became increasingly prone to stormwater and tidal flooding. And, increasingly unsafe.

Rendering of a resilient new city park with daylighted Newton’s Creek as the centerpiece.

Rendering of the planned Freemason Creek and surrounding park space

Illustrated depiction of daylighted Newton’s Creek and surrounding park space

Illustrated depiction of daylighted Freemason’s Creek and surrounding park space

Inspiration for new multi-use park space around daylighted Newton’s Creek

Inspiration for the Freemason’s Creek space

For the first time in over 80 years, Newton’s Creek will be uncovered and allowed to flow freely under the daylight through a new 26-acre community park. Transformation Project engineers have designed a new flood-control solution that will carry water from upstream neighborhoods down to a daylighted Newton’s Creek and out into the Elizabeth River. Along the way, the water will flow through a series of wetland terraces and recreational meadows, filtering runoff pollutants before reaching Newton’s Creek and the Elizabeth River.

It’s a resilient, forward-thinking and beautiful solution to some of the city’s most pressing tidal and stormwater-flooding problems. Residents and park visitors may be too busy enjoying it all to notice.

A park built for progress. And people.

Soon, for the first time in over 80 years, Newton’s Creek will be uncovered, or “daylighted,” and allowed to flow freely through a new, 26-acre community park. Transformation project engineers have designed a new flood-control solution to carry water from upstream neighborhoods down to a daylighted Newton’s Creek and out into the Elizabeth River. Along the way, the water will flow through a series of “green” amenities such as wetland terraces and recreational meadows, filtering runoff pollutants before reaching Newton’s Creek and the Elizabeth River.

It’s a resilient, forward-thinking and beautiful solution to some of the city’s most pressing tidal and stormwater-flooding problems. One that will bring endless outdoor activity to Tidewater Gardens’ residents and visitors.

Inspirations for the gateways, nature play areas, bike trails, cultural arts installations, and lighted trails in the new city park.