This demonstration rain garden is an example of green infrastructure in a public park and recreation center. It is situated on a hillside near the entrance to Elm Avenue Park in the Town of Bethlehem. It treats and infiltrates runoff from the parking lot and sidewalk during rainstorms.
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 of this page and click the "Rain Gardens and Bioretention" link.
• Site Name: Elm Avenue Park
• Address: 261 Elm Avenue, Delmar
• Owner: Town of Bethlehem
• County: Albany
• Watershed: Vlomankill
• Land use of site: Recreational park
• Can this site be visited? Yes
• Location on site: On hillside at front entrance to the Pool Complex
• Intent of design: To treat parking lot and sidewalk runoff through infiltration prior to entering storm drain
• Size of structure/capacity: N/A
• Size of drainage area: N/A
• Plants or materials used: Blue Flag Iris, Blazing Star, Summer Sweet, Obedient Plant, Cardinal Flower, Green-eyed Coneflower and others
• Maintenance: Weeding and replacement of mulch/vegetation if needed
• Maintained by: Town of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department
• Design: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County
• Installation: Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Stormwater Coalition of Albany County and Town of Bethlehem Municipal Staff
• Date of installation: 2008
• Zoning change or special permit required: No
• Project cost: $850 for plants
• Form of payment: Plant material costs were covered by Conservation Project Assistance funding from Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County provided approximately 3 hours of in kind service for the design of the garden. Excavation and mulch costs were covered by the Town of Bethlehem.
Contact: Paul Penman, Stormwater Management Officer for Town of Bethlehem
Email: ppenman@townofbethlehem.org
Phone: (518) 439-4955
Contact: Susan Pezzolla, Community Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County
Email: sep37@cornell.edu
Phone: (518) 765-3516
Contact: Susan Lewis, Admin. Manager of Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District
Email: susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net
Phone: (518) 765-7923