The rain garden is a collaborative project between Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. The rain garden mitigates runoff from a large parking lot. Since only native plants are used it also serves a dual purpose as an educational garden for the public to learn about how rain gardens function and how to use native plants in garden design.
For more information on this project and a video tour, visit the Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts' "Green Infrastructure" webpage on the right hand column and click the "Rain Gardens and Bioretention" link.
• Intent of design: To mitigate runoff from the parking lot
• Size of structure/capacity: 900 square feet
• Size of drainage area: 8,000 square feet
• Plants or materials used: Assorted native shrubs and perennials
• Maintenance: Regular weeding, removal of leaves as needed, annual mulching
• Maintained by: Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Master Gardeners
• More than one practice at this site? Yes, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Tree Filter and Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County Stormwater Planter
• Design: Orange County Soil & Water and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners (landscape design)
• Installation: Orange County Soil & Water and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners
• Date of installation: September and October 2010
• Zoning change or special permit required: No
• Project cost: Construction - $6,500; Plants - $600; Professional services - $6,200; Volunteer services value - $1,000
• Form of payment: Multiple sources
Contact: Kevin Sumner, District Manager, Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District
Address: 225 Dolson Avenue, Suite 103, Middletown, NY 10940
Email: kevin.sumner@ocsoil.org
Phone: (845) 343-1873
Contact: Debbie Lester, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
Address: 18 Seward Ave, Suite 300, Middletown, NY 10940
Email: dal53@corbell.edu
Phone: (845) 344-1234