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Community Rain Garden Demonstration Project at Crawford Park
The City of Woodland has constructed a rain garden at the northeast corner of Crawford Park at 1733 College Street, adjacent to the sidewalk along El Dorado Drive. This rain garden will become a beautiful, functional, and educational addition to the park. Watch this page and Envirowoodland social media for updates on the project.
Crawford Park Rain Garden Project
The rain garden will divert stormwater from El Dorado Drive into a retention swale and includes a drought-tolerant demonstration garden and shaded seating area. Landscaping will include native, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-friendly plants suitable for sun and shade, as well as wet and dry conditions. The image at the right shows the site before construction and the design for the completed project is below.
The rain garden will integrate “green infrastructure” into the park, demonstrate how small-scale green infrastructure projects can work even in residential yards, and provide a venue for ongoing education about green infrastructure and sustainable gardening.
Look for informational signage at the rain garden and sign up for the City’s EnviroWoodland newsletter at www.cityofwoodland.org/list.aspx?PRVMSG=282 to learn more about the rain garden and educational events.
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure refers to the strategically planned and managed use of natural lands to conserve or enhance ecosystems by mimicking natural processes. These managed systems, like the Crawford Park rain garden, can redirect, store, and filter stormwater - improving local water quality and reducing flooding by keeping water where it can support wildlife habitat and recharge groundwater.
Small-scale green infrastructure can reduce street flooding as well as the flows to sewer systems and pollution of surface water like local creeks and rivers. In addition to rain gardens, other examples of green storm water infrastructure projects include bioswales, constructed wetlands, and permeable pavements.
How was this project started?
Early inspiration for the Community Demonstration Rain Garden was based on a concept design by California Student Leadership in Green Infrastructure at UC Davis. The project was developed through a partnership between the City of Woodland and the Local Government Commission, which provided partial funding through a Great Urban Parks Campaign grant from the National Recreation and Park Association. Grants made through this program are intended to improve local environmental quality, increase access to high quality park spaces for residents, and create a community that is engaged in green storm water infrastructure solutions.