If you've visited Leslie lately you may have noticed something new…

Russell Park now has a rain garden!

Rain Gardens are a beautiful and effective way to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff reaching our lakes and rivers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, up to 7 0% of surface water pollution is carried to our lakes and rivers via stormwater runoff. Rain Gardens, also known as Bioretention Areas, keep rain water where it falls.

In residential and urban settings a rain garden will receive runoff from roofs, driveways, parking lots and other hard surfaces. The Russell Park Rain Garden receives rain water via a vegetated swale, a shallow trench seeded with native grasses and sedges.

All rain gardens are constructed by creating a shallow depression planted with native flowers, shrubs, and/or trees that thrive in moisture-rich soil. These plants act as natural filters, absorbing water and pollutants. The result is a reduction in the amount of polluted runoff reaching our lakes and rivers and a healthier environment.

The goal of this project is to provide an educational tool for individuals and groups interested in learning more about conservation practices and watershed protection.

Support for the Russell Park Rain Garden comes from the Upper Grand River Implementation Project, funded in part by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Non-Point Source Program. Support also comes from the City of Leslie, Michigan State University’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and the Upper Grand River Watershed Alliance.

Thank you to everyone who helped support this project especially the Leslie DPW and all our volunteers!

Volunteers will be needed to assist with weeding and maintaining the garden. Anyone with gardening experience, especially master gardeners, would be very valuable, but anyone willing to help will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Michelle at the ICD if interested.