Tyler Residents to Get New Yard Drains to Address Flooding

City Council approves plan to install additional curb inlets and drainage pipes in flood-prone areas

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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After years of flooding issues on Kidd Drive and Downing Street in Tyler, Texas, the City Council has approved a plan to install new curb inlets and yard drains to help alleviate the problem. The project will add two additional curb inlets on Downing Street and replace and add new inlets on Kidd Drive, as well as install new yard drains for the homes most affected by flooding. However, some residents like Rodney Pierce are concerned the plan won't fully address the issues in their yards.

Why it matters

Chronic flooding in residential neighborhoods can cause significant property damage and disrupt daily life for homeowners. This project aims to improve drainage infrastructure in a proactive effort to mitigate future flooding in these flood-prone areas of Tyler.

The details

The new curb inlets and drainage pipes will be installed on Kidd Drive and Downing Street, two downhill stretches between Cumberland Academy and Paluxy Drive that have experienced frequent flooding during heavy storms. The plan calls for two additional curb inlets on Downing Street, as well as enlarging one existing inlet. On Kidd Drive, two curb inlets will be replaced with higher-capacity versions, and two more will be added, all connected to a junction box at Shiloh Road. New yard drains will also be installed for the homes most prone to flooding.

  • The City Council approved the project on January 28, 2026.
  • Construction on the new curb inlets and drainage pipes is set to begin in the coming weeks.

The players

Rodney Pierce

A resident of Kidd Drive who has dealt with flooding issues in his yard for years and is concerned the city's plan won't fully address the problems.

City of Tyler

The local government entity that has approved and will oversee the installation of the new drainage infrastructure in the flood-prone areas.

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What they’re saying

“They came up with this brilliant plan, but they eliminated my section of it. And they're going to build a new pipe that goes between my house and the neighbors, and I'm going to bear the brunt of the whole thing. And I'm still not getting anything out of it other than three small drains in the backyard.”

— Rodney Pierce, Resident (KETK News)

“I believe their thinking is that it will alleviate some of it, but it's not going to do all of it, because you're still going to have the water running down the hill.”

— Rodney Pierce, Resident (KETK News)

What’s next

The City of Tyler has stated that it has started placing flags and markings along Kidd Drive and Downing Street in preparation for the upcoming construction on the new drainage infrastructure.

The takeaway

This project highlights the ongoing challenge cities face in addressing chronic flooding issues in residential neighborhoods. While the new curb inlets and drainage pipes are a proactive step, some residents remain skeptical that the plan will fully resolve the flooding problems they have endured for years. Continued communication and collaboration between the city and impacted homeowners will be crucial as the construction moves forward.