Application: GEOPAVE® Gravel Pavers for Stormwater-Friendly Parking
Project: Eureka Trail Athens Trailhead Improvements
Location: Athens, Tennessee

Summary

Enhancing Community Access with Sustainable Infrastructure
The Eureka Trail is a multi-use recreational path that links Athens and Englewood, Tennessee, repurposing a former rail corridor into a health-focused community asset. This scenic gravel trail, enjoyed by walkers, runners, cyclists, and equestrians, includes a unique segment called the Health Triangle, a half-mile loop equipped with educational signage promoting wellness and accessibility for users of all abilities.

As part of a grant-funded initiative, the City of Athens sought to expand the trailhead with a new parking area and trail extension. The challenge was not just to accommodate increased visitor traffic but to manage stormwater responsibly while staying within budget and preserving the natural character of the site.

Challenge

Meeting Drainage Requirements Without Space for Detention
The planned improvements at the Athens Trailhead required constructing a new parking lot and extending the Eureka Trail. However, the addition of paved drive aisles and upstream parking spaces introduced impervious surfaces that could increase runoff. Traditional paved surfaces would have required a separate detention basin to handle stormwater, but available space was limited, and the inclusion of such a feature wasn’t feasible.

Beyond stormwater concerns, the parking area also needed to meet vehicular loading requirements and deliver long-term durability, all while maintaining the project’s aesthetic appeal and cost efficiency.

Solution

GEOPAVE® Pavers Deliver Structural Support & Stormwater Control
To address both structural and stormwater management challenges, Lose Design’s Senior Landscape Architect, Daniel Boutté, selected the GEOPAVE® Gravel Porous Paver System. Designed for strength and high permeability, the GEOPAVE system provided an effective, low-impact solution that naturally retains and filters runoff while supporting vehicle traffic.

Wilson Construction installed approximately 5,500 square feet of GEOPAVE pavers in the downstream parking bays to collect runoff from the upstream asphalt areas. The system’s herringbone cell design and integrated mesh base stabilized the gravel infill, ensuring long-term performance even under daily vehicular loads.

To enhance storage and infiltration capacity, engineers added an extra 18 inches of 3-inch stone beneath the #57 stone base, along with an underdrain system that channels excess water to a nearby grass swale for further treatment. GEOPAVE SNAP Delineators, 250 in total, were installed to define parking spaces and traffic flow with visual clarity and long-term durability.

The system was anchored with ATRA® Keys, tendons, and ATRA Tendon Clips, ensuring maximum resistance to sliding and gravitational forces. This geocellular solution formed a stable framework to support vegetation, enabling the successful installation of sod on an otherwise unmanageable slope.

Results

A Budget-Friendly, High-Performance Trailhead
The original design included traditional concrete pavers, but costs threatened to exceed the project’s budget. Switching to GEOPAVE allowed the team to stay on budget while meeting both structural and environmental requirements. The system provided the necessary load support, reduced stormwater runoff, and offered a clean, natural appearance that blended well with the trail’s rural character.

Since its opening in November 2020, the new trailhead has received positive feedback from locals and visitors alike. “We regularly draw users from across the Southeast, and people have taken time to compliment the geogrid system,” said Austin Fesmire, Director of Parks and Recreation. “It not only met our drainage goals but also our aesthetic expectations in this high-profile area.”

Located at 1400 East Madison Avenue, the Athens Trailhead is a model of successful collaboration between local, state, and federal partners, showcasing how smart design and sustainable materials can transform public spaces.