“ Flexi-Pave is great for the trees and great for the environment ,” said Public Works landscape architect Marci Camacho . She said the department now needs to see how it holds up under tough urban conditions and based on that assessment will decide whether to use it on a larger scale . With 124,000-plus street trees in San Francisco , there ’ s a lot of potential .
What makes Flexi-Pave ideal for a high-traffic area such as UN Plaza is its ability to withstand powerful cleaning tools , such as steam cleaners and pressure washers , without cracking or damaging its surface .
The LEED-certified and permeable material is new to San Francisco but was introduced in 2001 by K . B . Industries , Inc . and can be found in other Bay Area cities , including Daly City , Richmond and San Rafael . Flexi- Pave got national coverage in 2015 when the folks over at Yellowstone National Park unveiled a 4,000 square foot walkway made of the porous material .
Flexi-Pave usually costs $ 18 to $ 24 per square foot to install – pricier than decomposed granite – but may hold up longer and provide environmental benefits . The construction firm , Ghilotti Bros , Inc ., donated both the material and labor for the pilot demonstration . Crews installed the tree basin material March 14 .
Plans are underway to install more Flexi-Pave in UN Plaza later this year . The material will be used to make two of the exhibits installed by the Exploratorium more accessible for wheelchair-users . Flexi-Pave ’ s noncracking surface is ADA-compliant and ensures a safe and secure pathway for assisted walking devices .
The Public Works Strategic Plan calls for our organization to test innovative materials and processes that have the potential to reduce our carbon footprint , save water and promote environmental stewardship in other ways . We ’ ll keep you updated on the UN Plaza tree basin pilot and others in the future .