One of the many surfacing products we offer at Custom Park Surfacing is Flexi-Pave, a unique porous surface that can be used in many different applications – for driveways, paths – such as the one we installed in Sarasota, Florida.
In this article, we want to discuss a project similar to ours in Florida but, of course, on a much larger scale – Yellowstone National Park.
The first national park in the United States! Offering genuinely one-of-a-kind experiences including magnificent hiking routes, breathtaking views, Old Faithful, and geysers that blast water 100 feet into the air, Yellowstone National Park is also well-known for its wildlife, numerous geothermal features, and, of course, the use of Flexi-Pave.
Yellowstone National Park has finished the second stage of its campaign to put in more environmentally friendly paths. In 2016, Yellowstone National Park removed 4,160 square feet of deteriorating asphalt paths and replaced them with Flexi-Pave walkways. This innovative material, made from innovative eco-friendly paving material that is made in part from recycled tires, will aid in reducing run-off and erosion in the environmentally sensitive Yellowstone Geyser Basin.
What Is Flexi-Pave?
Flexi-Pave is an environmentally friendly, porous, resilient, insulating, non-cracking building material that can be applied in pathways. This ground-breaking invention uses recycled waste tires. Directly blended on the site location, Flexi-Pave hardens within 24 hours. The end product has a very porous, robust, and dynamic physical makeup. It attaches easily to nearby building materials and is intended for situations with both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
What Is Flexi-Pave Made Of?
Flexi-Pave uses stone and recycled tires in a 50/50 ratio. It is then applied as a single monolithic pour after being blended on-site with a urethane binding agent. The resulting combination can bond with:
- Fiberglass
- Compacted aggregate
- Wood
- Steel
- Concrete
- Aluminum
- And other materials
The permeable surface of Flexi-Pave, which has many advantages over conventional paving solutions, makes it the ideal run-off for Yellowstone National Park. Due to a large number of visitors, the presence of wildlife, the abundance of natural geographic features, and diverse weather, Flexi-Pave provides a surface that lowers stormwater run-off and retains locally contaminants and pollution.
How Flexi-Pave Helps Yellowstone National Park
Using Flexi-Pave is extremely beneficial to Yellowstone National Park in many ways, especially because it is durable and environmentally friendly.
Durable and Long-Lasting
In comparison to gravel paving and its related maintenance requirements, Flexi-Pave saves Yellowstone National Park money over the long term because it can last up to 15 years. With Flexi-Pave, even with heavy usage from vehicles, wildlife, people, and tourists, there is no immediate need to replace or repair the walkway.
Flexi-Pave addresses problems caused by heavy traffic of cars. It is resistant to:
- Transmission fluid
- Brake fluid
- Gasoline or diesel
- Hydraulic fluid
- And other fluids
In addition, Flexi-Pave addresses possible problems caused by nature since it is resistant to:
- Saltwater
- Chlorine
- Ozone
- Bromine
- Muriatic acid
- Magnesium chloride
Extremely Porous
Flexi-Pave protects Yellowstone National Park’s pathways from the heavy storm and other harsh weather. Flexi-Pave supports stormwater management and groundwater recharge at 2,000 gallons per square foot an hour. Reintroducing flowing water to the water table ,and allowing nature to reabsorb water, can lower dissolved nitrogen and phosphate levels that enter the water table and slow stormwater runoff.
Less Maintenance
With Flexi-Pave, Yellowstone National Park won’t have to worry about spending money on pathway maintenance. Due to its elastic qualities, Flexi-Pave won’t crack or develop potholes even with the park receiving thousands of visitors each year. Flexi-Pave requires no maintenance even in extreme conditions. The pressure created by freezing water does not affect the Flexi-Pave’s mechanical strength because of the urethane’s elastic characteristics and rubber’s ability to compress.
Even this bison seems to enjoy it…
The Bottom Line
Pathways built with Flexi-Pave have considerably helped Yellowstone National Park. This revolutionary product is environmentally friendly and has qualities that no other building material can match. If you’re a general contractor or property manager, you should consider Flexi-Pave for your next project. Contact Custom Park Surfacing today to get a quote on your project.
