Volunteers create rain garden at B.F. Day Elementary
On July 17 and 18, more than sixty students, parents and community members volunteered their time and effort to build a rain garden at B.F. Day Elementary School. The new rain garden will serve as an invaluable educational tool for students to learn about the environment, providing hands-on lessons about the importance of native plants that help collect, filter and absorb pollutants from storm water runoff. Rain gardens are one of the many ways in which Seattle Public Schools students can engage in hands-on learning as we strengthen science education across the system.
Volunteers excavated 500 square feet of soil from the site, which serves as a natural collection point for storm runoff. The group then used compost and rocks to line key areas near drain spouts to help reduce any potential erosion from storm water. Mulch was used on the base of the rain garden to provide the environmental benefits of a forest floor.
A mixture of plants, many of them native to Puget Sound, were planted throughout the rain garden to serve as natural filters for excess storm water from the school's roof and front lawn that would otherwise flow directly into the nearby Ship Canal.
Cost effective and requiring minimal maintenance, the rain garden was created through invaluable community partnerships. Many local and governmental organizations provided resources and support to create the B.F. Day rain garden. Plants and mulch were provided by Seattle Public Utilities and the rain garden design was by Stewardship Partners. For more information and a complete list of community partners, please click here.
|
