Sometimes the most impactful projects start with a simple conversation. For us, it happened when I met Dr. Cassandra Sanders, the founder of Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy and learned about a challenge that had been holding back her dream for years. Every time it rained, her property flooded. Fifteen thousand square feet of land was completely unusable and staff relied on portable pumps to remove the water.
Leaps & Bounds had big dreams, to build a new covered arena to expand their adaptive riding program and serve more families on their growing waitlist. But first, they needed a permanent solution, and that’s where we came in. Our civil engineering team is experienced in designing drainage and stormwater management systems whether to meet regulatory requirements or to solve a drainage issue. We work with clients across the Americas to design economical solutions to solve a variety of needs or goals.
The Challenge:
Leaps & Bounds is more than a therapy center, it’s a lifeline for families across the Inland Empire and Orange County. Their programs include pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy.
The property sits at the downstream end of a rural drainage area, right next to a County Flood Control channel. With no robust municipal drainage system, every storm turned the site into a pond, sometimes with water four feet deep. After every storm, staff relied on portable pumps to clear the water. Meanwhile, the inability to expand meant the waitlist for therapy continued to grow, leaving more families waiting for care.
(The constant battle of flooding at the site after every storm made riding impossible)
The Solution:
Ware Malcomb partnered with Leaps & Bounds to design a permanent drainage system that would eliminate flooding and unlock the site’s full potential. Key improvements included:
- Underground Stormwater Chambers: Replacing an underperforming shallow basin with a deeper detention system in better soils, allowing the area to be backfilled and repurposed for therapy activities.
- Permanent Storm Drain Connection: Instead of relying on pumps, we designed a gravity discharge system to a newly improved Riverside County flood facility with a unique junction structure and flap gate to prevent backflow, an innovative and cost-effective solution that eliminated the need for costly pumps.
- Surface Grading & Drainage Enhancements: Minor site grading and strategic improvements to optimize water flow.
- Low Impact Development (LID): Maintaining the previously permitted LID Best Management Practice (BMP) the new and improved infiltration BMP promotes infiltration to recharge groundwater and reduce runoff, exceeding sustainability requirements.
(Left Photo: Plan excerpt showing the limits of surface grading and location of underground chambers. Right Photo: Photo of underground stormwater chambers on site)
The Journey:
The project required extensive coordination with the City of Norco and geotechnical engineers to amend an outdated Water Quality Management Plan. To permit our new system, we had to amend that plan and prove our approach met infiltration requirements and permit a new permanent connection to a recently improved Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District facility. That meant extensive coordination with the geotechnical engineer and strategic field investigations to optimize chamber depth and location for cost-effective performance. Securing an encroachment permit for a permanent storm drain connection was critical. The design had to handle a 100-year flow under pressure and prevent backflow into the site. Our solution? A custom junction structure with a flap gate that transitions to gravity discharge as the detention system fills, eliminating the need for expensive pumps and protecting the building from flooding.
(Photo of site after backfill installed around chambers for new arena)
The Final Outcome:
Today, that once-flooded land is a safe, functional space where children can thrive. Leaps & Bounds can finally expand its programs and serve more families who have been waiting for care. For us, this project wasn’t just about civil engineering. It was about giving a non-profit the ability to dream bigger and serve more kids, and we’re proud to be part of it. With the engineering challenge now solved, Leaps & Bounds is focusing on fundraising to continue its mission. Through the Elevate campaign, Friends of Leaps & Bounds, a 501c3 non profit organization, is raising $3 million to bring the full vision to life. Corporate sponsors and donors can help ensure every child has a place to heal, grow, and thrive. To learn more, contact: NOSullivan@LeapsPediatric.org.
(Photo of Phase 1 complete of the new useable site over the drainage)
At Ware Malcomb, this project is a perfect example of how our civil engineering expertise goes beyond technical solutions. We combine innovative design, regulatory navigation and sustainable practices to solve complex site challenges, unlocking possibilities for our clients and their communities. Whether it’s stormwater management, grading or infrastructure design, we’re committed to creating spaces that work better for people and the environment.
Click here to learn more about our Civil Engineering services.
