Construction on the rain garden at the Olney Recreation Center (A and Champlost Streets in Philadelphia) is underway and will be completed soon!
Rain gardens are shallow depressions that can be planted with a wide variety of flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs. Rain gardens and other green infrastructure store and purify rainwater where it falls and allow it to soak into the ground, helping to prevent the combined sewer system from overflowing and polluting our waterways. When it rains, rainwater mixes with oil, dirt, chemicals, pesticides, and other pollutants as it flows over roads, lawns, and other hard surfaces. Rain gardens stop this pollution before it reaches local waterways. Benefits of rain gardens include cleaner water, attractive gardens with colorful flowers, habitat for wildlife, and reduction in rainwater runoff.
Stay tuned for a community meeting and other upcoming events to celebrate the rain garden. If you would like to get involved, contact Steph Clymer at steph@ttfwatershed.org or 215-844-8100.
Starting to dig up a section of grass to make room for a new rain garden!
See more pictures of the Olney Rec Center rain garden prep here.
