Last updated: October 2024
The PARC Rain Garden project in Plymouth, Michigan, is an innovative initiative led by the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) and Friends of the Rouge, aimed at addressing stormwater management and enhancing local environmental quality. Supported by a $400,000 grant from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) through its Nonpoint Source Program, this project will involve the construction of over 31,500 square feet of rain gardens located on the property of Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC). These gardens are designed to filter up to 240,000 gallons of stormwater per rainfall event, preventing runoff from entering local waterways like the Tonquish Creek. The rain gardens will also mitigate flooding, reduce pollution, and create a more stable water flow in the Rouge River watershed, which is heavily impacted by urban development. In addition to their environmental benefits, the rain gardens will provide aesthetic and ecological value to the PARC campus. The plantings, featuring native Michigan species, will create habitats for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds, complementing the existing beehives on the PARC rooftop. The project aims to showcase the feasibility of integrating green infrastructure into routine construction, encouraging its adoption in other urban areas and residential spaces. Ultimately, the PARC Rain Garden project will not only improve stormwater management but also serve as a model for sustainable urban development, enhancing the landscape while fostering environmental stewardship in the Plymouth community. (Ref.1,2)
PARC rain gardens soaking up stormwater
Friends of the Rouge
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Poor water quality
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens), Improved governance of green or blue areas, Creation of new, innovative governance and management approaches
Project objectives
To create a high-performance stormwater management system that retains rainwater on-site, filtering it through rain gardens rather than directing it into storm drains.
To reduce downstream flooding in Tonquish Creek and stabilize water flow during droughts by capturing and managing up to 240,000 gallons of stormwater per rain event.
To mitigate pollution, erosion and sedimentation issues in the Rouge River watershed, particularly addressing the severe stormwater runoff impact on Tonquish Creek.
To enhance the aesthetics of the PARC campus by incorporating native Michigan plantings that beautify the area and provide habitats for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds.
To serve as a model for integrating green infrastructure into urban spaces, encouraging the adoption of rain gardens in parking lots, community parks, and residential areas.
To demonstrate the role of sustainable infrastructure in supporting a cleaner water future for Southeast Michigan by improving stormwater management practices.
To involve the local community in the management of the newly built gardens
(Ref.1,2)
Implementation activities
The project implementation activities carried out by community volunteers, including corporate volunteers such as those from DTE Energy, and members of Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) included the following:
1. Planting native plants: Volunteers planted over 10,000 native plant plugs in the rain gardens throughout the month of September. These plants help filter stormwater, reduce flooding, and create habitats for pollinators.
2. Rain garden construction: Volunteers worked to install approximately 20,000 square feet of rain gardens at the PARC site, which collectively absorb over 225,000 gallons of water per rain event.
3. Soil preparation and mulching: Volunteers prepared the soil and applied mulch to the garden areas to ensure proper planting conditions and to help retain moisture around the native plants.
4. Ongoing maintenance: In addition to planting, volunteers were involved in maintaining the rain gardens by weeding, mulching, and caring for the newly planted vegetation.
(Ref.1-4)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
As the host site and a partial funder, PARC, a non-profit organization, provided the space needed for the rain gardens and supported the overall reconstruction of the parking lot to incorporate green infrastructure.
Friends of the Rouge (NGO) was instrumental in the project’s design and coordination. They took the lead in securing funding, organizing volunteers, and collaborating with various stakeholders to ensure the project’s success. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supported the initiative financially through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Nonpoint Source Program.
Corporate volunteers, such as teams from DTE Energy, contributed essential manpower, providing labor and resources to help construct the rain gardens. Local community members also played a significant role, actively participating in planting, soil preparation, and ongoing maintenance, making the rain garden project a true community-driven effort.
(Ref.1-4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Expected enhanced support of pollination
- Restoration of derelict areas
- Achieved restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Friends of the Rouge (n.d.). A Celebration of the New Rain Gardens at PARC!. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Kuban, K. (2020). A Leap Forward for Stormwater Management PARC rain garden project will help reduce pollution and erosion in Rouge River. issuu, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Wright, E. (2021). Plymouth rain garden-planting project will help prevent flooding, dried-up creeks. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Friends of the Rouge (2021). FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE Explore and Register for Volunteer Activities Below. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
5.
DATA, USA (n.d.). Plymouth, MI. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Brockett, B. (2021). Friends of the Rouge: Fighting floods with gardens & rain barrels. Michigan Environmental Council, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Friends of the Rouge (2024). 2024 PARC Rain Garden Events. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
Rain garden at PARC entryway
Matthew Bertrand
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.