What looks like an ordinary Publix parking lot off Old Shell Road is doing more than holding cars.
Beneath your feet, the permeable pavers and landscaping are soaking up rain, keeping it from barreling into storm drains.
It’s a glimpse of how simple design tweaks can manage heavy downpours without flashy new infrastructure.
Teaching Green Infrastructure From the Ground Up
Mobile’s resilience team is rolling out Naturally Mobile, a program built to turn technical ideas into everyday know-how.
Rain gardens, French drains, bioswales, and native plantings aren’t just buzzwords—they’re tools to slow water where it falls.
The city plans to hire specialists to walk homeowners and businesses through the costs, benefits, and easy steps for bringing these methods into backyards, storefronts, and shared spaces.
Community meetings in each district will keep the conversation face-to-face and practical.
A Grant Sparks Wider Change
A $140,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Environmental Engagement Center is giving this effort a lift.
Beyond creating a guide, the funding backs outreach that keeps residents engaged after the first presentation.
By turning a single grant into long-term habits, Naturally Mobile aims to build lasting awareness, not just a one-off campaign.
Tackling Rain With a Dedicated Stormwater Team
Mobile’s geography and rainfall make flooding a stubborn challenge.
Public Services Director Matt Anderson says a new stormwater maintenance division will focus every day on drainage improvements—thirty staff members to start, with more positions planned.
Over the next three years, $5 million a year will go toward upgrades designed to keep streets clear, prevent infrastructure breakdowns, and make heavy rain less disruptive.
A Shift in How the City Sees Water
Naturally Mobile represents a mindset shift: rain isn’t a problem to push away but a resource to absorb and reuse.
By blending small interventions like rain gardens with major investments in drainage, Mobile is setting itself up for steadier streets and healthier landscapes.
Over time, these choices could shape a city where storms feel less threatening, neighborhoods feel greener, and the water’s path feels more intentional.
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