RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - At Richmond’s Broad Rock Library, new pavers, trees and other native plants now serve as buffers, absorbing water running off the building, and preventing it from flooding the nearby park.

“Climate change is real. And so we’re seeing the impact and feel the impact, especially in neighborhoods that have been historically underfunded,” said Mike Jones, Richmond City Council.

Richmond City Council is poised to approve more than $65 million, proposed in Mayor Levar Stoney’s budget, to continue that work and more.

“When it rains we already have a saturated ground and in addition to that, we don’t have the storm and gutter infrastructure to collect that water,” said Stephanie Lynch, Richmond City Councilor.

Those funds would also enlarge, replace and repair thousands of miles of gas, water and wastewater lines under the city, and near public utility plants.

“We’re changing out pipes that are currently smaller in diameter and exchanging them for larger pipes so that more stormwater can go through those pipes and essentially cause less flooding,” said Councilor Lynch.