NOTE**

We plan to plant two rain gardens in optimal locations to best defend against flood risk. Within Miller Park, there are two distinct natural depressions in the landscape for our two separate rain gardens to be planted. Each one is already on a natural slope, and both had a drain pipe previously installed, allowing us to assume a large amount of water collects here already. Each will be between 100 and 150 square feet (Technical Guide, 26). In both locations, there are already older-growth trees planted, which assists in the amount of water hitting the ground at once, but the area is open enough between the trees. This allows us to avoid any root interference while planting each garden, as they are between six to eight inches deep. The rain gardens will collect excess rainfall from surrounding infrastructure, concrete areas, and natural slopes both within and around the park. This will reduce the amount of water going into the roads and walkways while also providing new visual aspects to the park that community members have requested.  

Each garden's layout will be similar, containing a mixture of native shrubs, tall grasses, and flowers in a mulch/compost/shredded hardwood soil mixture. This soil prevents runoff while supporting plant growth. The center of the rain garden is the deepest to collect the most standing water until it can be absorbed into the ground, requiring it to contain plants that thrive in standing water. We plan to use royal ferns to help slow the rainfall onto the ground and swamp milkweed. The middle ring is designed to have plants that benefit from consistently wet soil; for this, we will plant Virginia bluebells and Monarch's Delight to bring in healthy pollinators and the botanical aspect that the community is looking for. The outer edge of the garden will be composed of mainly taller grasses, switchgrass, and bushy blue fern, along with shrubs, royal fern, and lady fern that survive well in drier soil (VA Natives). The taller grasses also act as a natural filter to prevent pollutants from entering the stormwater drains through runoff.

A typical 100-square-foot rain garden ranges in cost from $20-$30 per square foot for both materials and installation costs. This brings our cost of two gardens between $4,000-$6000 in total (Dept. of Environment). 

Please click through the slides to see the informal powerpoint which provides a brief overview of the project.