On those long, warm Seattle summer days, Beacon Mountain Playground is full of families enjoying a park like no other. It’s an environment that speaks to the historical, infrastructural and ecological importance of its location, the nearby Duwamish River and Puget Sound. It features a spraypark, embankment tube slides, a covered “treehouse” overlook with panoramic views of the Sound, ziplines, plenty of open space and solar panels. While they’re enjoying the fun, they might not realize that the real fun is under their feet!

A unique sequence of  water elements—a cistern, rain garden, porous pavements—connects with the spraypark to save dollars and water resources. Potable water enters the underground cistern, mixing with water runoff from the spraypark. It’s recycled in a sand and UV filter and used in the spraypark up to 6 times before overflowing to a drip irrigation system and a cleansing rain garden—and eventually to the Puget Sound. The system combines the best of natural and industrial processes creating a more sustainable strategy for urban hydrology. Plus, fun!