Case Studies
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided grants to help schools and public organizations across Illinois create rain gardens. Grant recipients used these funds to create gardens that improve the local environment, provide access for the public and enhance community aesthetics. We are featuring three projects that each demonstrate a different environmental benefit.
Fox River Country Day School - Stormwater Management Project
The Fox River Country Day School wanted to install a rain garden in the center of its parking lot to control water flowing off the roof of its elementary school building as well as the parking lot itself. Larger storms were causing flooding in a rare and endangered oak savanna located on the campus.
The elementary students set out to solve this problem by installing a rain garden to absorb water that previously ran down a drainage pipe into a holding pond. The garden also filters the water as it slowly percolates down into the soil to recharge the groundwater.
"Students view and explore the flowers, butterflies,and birds that frequent or inhabit the garden and identify many of the plants using our interpretive sign.
-Timothy Holzworth Campus Naturalist
The expanded rain garden has increased native habitat for migrating birds and insects. It also reduced harmful sediments and contaminants in stormwater runoff from entering nearby wetlands, oak savana and eventually the Fox River.
Boone County Conservation District (BCCD) - Habitat Project
Since its formation in 1964, the Boone County Conservation District (BCCD) has been a leader in managing natural areas and preserving open spaces for educational, ecological and recreational benefits.Today the BCCD has an integrated network of gardens that includes restored prairies, heritage gardens and a butterfly garden.
The District wished to add a 288 square foot rain garden next to existing butterfly and natural herb gardens, and then connect them with a natural bark pathway.The rain garden now educates hundreds of people each year about the importance of habitat restoration, biodiversity, alternative stormwater management and groundwater infiltration.
"Our rain garden works great. We have more butterflies and it is a valuable addition to our heritage garden program."
- Tim Craig, BCCD Education Director
Highland Park - Water Quality Project
The Park District of Highland Park wanted to use a rain garden to improve the water quality of the Skokie River that runs adjacent to Fink Park. Their goal was to highlight sustainable infrastructure techniques in the park that already included a one-acre native prairie planting, vegetated bioswales and a restored pond shoreline.
Community volunteers and park crews removed 2500 square feet of turf grass from a low-lying area adjacent to the park's ball fields and indoor tennis facility and planted 1,250 native plants.The new rain garden now reduces the volume of runoff going into the river and the native plants and soils filter manmade pollutants as the stormwater seeps into the ground.
"The Lieutenant Governor's initiative allowed us to expand and improve our rain garden complex. Now hundreds of people each year can see the environmental benefits. The raingardens have even inspired some of our volunteers to install them on their own property."
-Rebecca Grill Natural Areas Coordinator
Please continue to regularly check the website to learn more about these rain garden projects throughout the spring and summer seasons.
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