The popular City Utilities rain garden workshops are back to help residents manage rain water runoff on their property. Four workshops are scheduled this spring to teach residents how to create a rain garden on their property including: sizing, shaping, location, routing water to the garden, construction, plant selection and maintenance. During the training sessions residents will receive one-on-one consultations about rain water issues on their property.
A rain garden is landscaped areas that hold rain water runoff for a few hours to a few days, using native plants that help the soil soak up more water. After a rain event, the water slowly soaks into the ground. The gardens help residents reduce standing water on their property and reduce the amount of runoff that goes into combined sewers, which improves water quality in our rivers. Compared with a grassed lawn area, a rain garden may allow 30 percent more rain water to absorb into the ground.
Registration
Because space is limited, residents are asked to register in advance for the Free workshops by calling 311 or (260) 427-8311. City residents who attend a workshop may be eligible to receive a cash incentive to assist with plant purchases for their rain garden. For more information visit http://www.catchingrainfw.org/
2017 Rain Garden Workshop Dates:
Saturday, April 8, 2017 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
University of Saint Francis
Pope John Paul II Center, Classroom 115
Thursday, April 20, 2017 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Citizens Square – Omni Room
200 E. Berry Street
Saturday, April 29, 2017 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Dupont Library
536 E. Dupont Road
Saturday, May 6, 2017 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
McMillen Community Center
3901 Abbott Street
Rain Garden Native Plant Sale
Saturday, May 27 9:00 AM – noon
Salomon Farm Park – Learning Center
817 W. Dupont Road
Program Recognized by Sustainable Indiana
In 2016, the Rain Garden Program received the Green Light Award from Sustainable Indiana. The award recognizes initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environment.
The program was recognized for efforts to promote a sustainable future by planting rain gardens to help protect our rivers. The Rain Garden Program has built 20 public rain gardens and trained nearly 1,500 residents on constructing a rain garden on their property.
