Rain Gardens are stormwater management practices that improve water quality by treating polluted stormwater runoff and lessen the quantity of runoff by absorbing it into the ground. Rain gardens are tools homeowners and others can use to improve the health of water resources, like wetlands, streams and reservoirs, and lessen the severity of flooding by allowing stormwater to infiltrate into the soil. They also make attractive additions to any property and attract butterflies and other desirable insects and birds.
Rain gardens have been installed at six sites including Lasdon Park and Arboretum (Somers), Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College (Valhalla), Westchester
County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Office Building (Mt. Kisco), Lenoir Preserve (Yonkers), Saxon Woods Golf Course (Scarsdale) and Edith G. Read Natural Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (Rye). The rain gardens at these locations were designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff from adjacent impervious surfaces including roofs, sidewalks and parking lots. They also serve as a model to show visitors what this type of garden looks like and to present ideas on how they can be applied to residential and commercial properties.
Each rain garden was uniquely designed and sculpted with native plant species that are moisture-tolerant. Species that are typically found in rain gardens include but are not limited to Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), Blazing Star (Liatris spicata), Turtlehead (Chelone sp.), New England aster (Aster Novae-angliae), blue flag (Iris versicolor), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), high bush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Redtwig dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) and winterberry (Ilex verticillata).
Site Locations:
Lasdon Park and Arboretum
Located next to the courtyard and lilac walk, accessible from Route 35 in Somers.
The Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College
Located next to the stone cottage at 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla.
Westchester County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Office Building
Located at 25 Moore Avenue in downtown Mount Kisco.
Lenoir Preserve
Located next to the nature center at 19 Dudley Street, Yonkers.
Saxon Woods Golf Course
Located next to the Golf Pro Shop at 315 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale.
Edith G. Read Natural Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
Located next to the nature center in Rye.
Additional Information on Rain Gardens:
The Low Impact Development Center
Environmental Protection Agency