Description

image of Ulster County Rain Garden in summer with flowering plants, building in far background

This rain garden was installed as a public demonstration project. The Ulster County Department of the Environment office is located in a former historic home in the City of Kingston, and the rain garden illustrates what homeowners in an urbanized area can do to capture and treat stormwater runoff. It also enhances the landscape and provides a beautiful habitat for beneficial wildlife. This garden has worked well to date, even capturing runoff from the large storms.

For more information, download the Ulster County Department of the Environment Rain Garden Brochure (PDF 370 KB).

Site Location

Site Name: Ulster County Department of the Environment Office
Address: 17 Pearl Street, Kingston, NY
Owner: Ulster County
County: Ulster
Watershed: Esopus Creek
Land use of site: Municipal office
Can this site be visited? Yes
Location on site: West side of building

rain garden in process of being built. pit in foreground filled with stone, construction vehicles and caution tape also in view

Practice Details

Intent of design: Capture and allow stormwater runoff from the roof to infiltrate into the ground
Size of structure/capacity: 300 square feet
Size of drainage area: 1,000 square feet
Plants or materials used: Blue milkweed, Swamp milkweed, New England aster, White wild indigo, Pink turtlehead, Tickseed, Purple coneflower, Joe-pye weed, Helen's flower, Blue flag iris, Gayfeather, Cardinal flower, Eastern beebalm, Mountain mint, Sweet coneflower, Dwarf ironweed, New Jersey tea, Summersweet, Prairie dropseed
Maintenance: Seasonal weeding, remulching and plant replacements as needed
Maintained by: Ulster County Department of Public Works and Ulster County Department of the Environment Staff
More than one practice at this site? Yes, Ulster County Office Building Complex Bioretention, Permeable Pavers, and Street Trees

Design/Installation Information

Design: Barbara Restaino, Landscape Architect, Restaino Designs
Installation: Ulster County DPW and Department of Environment staff and volunteers
Date of installation: August 2011
Zoning change or special permit required: No
Project cost: Plant materials donated (worth approximately $1,000) and County labor
Form of payment: Plant materials donated by Friends of Forsyth Park (ALCOA grant) and Cornell Cooperative Extension

For Additional Site Information:

Contact: Mandy Wolfson, Environmental Resource Technician, Ulster County Department of the Environment
Email: awol@co.ulster.ny.us
Phone: (845) 338-7287