Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are shallow depressions filled with native plants designed to catch stormwater runoff from roof gutters, streets, parking lots or other areas.
Rain gardens help manage stormwater as a resource rather than channeling it to storm drains which lead directly to area creeks, rivers and lakes. Managing stormwater onsite with rain gardens reduces downstream erosion, flooding, and pollution and recharges the groundwater aquifer.
The Missouri Botanical Garden Rainscaping Guide is a great resource for determining if a rain garden or bioswale is best for your yard.
Blooming Blvds
The City is offering a new program, Blooming Blvds, as a way to achieve the rain garden portion of Yard Ethic certification. Through this program, residents would partner with the City to manage and maintain a rain garden planted near their property in a city-owned right-of-way.