But they pack a powerful environmental punch.
They straddled a walkway that diagonally dissected the lawn of the Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center at the corner of MacArthur Highway and Richard Allen Drive. Two rough semi circles had been dug out along either side of the sidewalk, about six inches deep. Several days earlier, a handful of volunteers had planted about a dozen plants native to Illinois.
Because this garden was located in a low-lying part of this normal grass-covered field, they would collect water after rainfall. This rainwater would be filtered by the ground, keeping it from reaching the city combined sewage/waste water treatment facility.
At least 70 percent of harmful pollutants are introduced by storm water runoff from local towns and municipalities. City Treasurer, Patrick Nichting said: “This project will allow the citizens of Peoria to see first-hand how just one rain garden can improve our groundwater supply, while improving our community water source.”
Nichting was instrumental in securing the grant.
Now, by itself, this “rain garden” won’t keep a lot of water from reaching the treatment facility.
But imagine if on every single block in the city of Peoria – – especially in the older neighborhoods of the Illinois River Valley and the East and West Bluffs — there was ONE yard when the homeowner built a rain garden.
They would not only add beauty to their neighborhoods, they would contribute to water conservation and lessen the amount of water that would otherwise find it’s way into the storm water drainage system and therefore have to be treated before it enters the Illinois River.
“This works because these native plants have deep roots, and can suck up water that goes deeper into the ground. Normal ornamental grass has roots that are about an inch thick,” said Jane Gerdes, of the Peoria Public Works Department. “In this way, rain gardens are like mini-wetlands that help Peoria’s ecosystem. “
When it rains and the gardens collect run-off, the rain gardens will hold standing water for a few days at most, she explained.
According to a prepared statement, this demonstration rain garden was built on public land in an area of approximately 500 square feet. The garden was designed and built by volunteers from the: CGM (Commercial Grounds Maintenance), Farnsworth Group; Foth Infrastructure & Environment, Natural Resources-Your Development Task Force; Heart of Illinois Sierra Club; Peoria Park District; Tri-County Regional Planning Commission; Peoria Public School District 150; Spring Grove Neighborhood Homeowners Association; and Peoria Public Works Department. Native plants have been donated by Simply Native. Mulch was donated by CGM (Commercial Grounds Maintenance).
A $6,000 environmental grant from Illinois American Water is helping to fund the rain garden project, the statement continued. Through Illinois American Water’s Environmental Grant Program, funds are provided to initiatives that benefit watersheds, increase awareness and promote community participation.
The project includes more that just this demonstration garden, residents are urged to stop by the Public Works Department and pick up packets of free seeds and instructions for building one of these simple gardens. Call Jane Gerdes at (309) 494-8800 for details.