Very Popular and Beneficial

A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground.  Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property.  Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife.

Many different types of perennials can be used in a rain garden, but native plants are typically the better choice.  Examples of different types of rain gardens would include a Butterfly Garden, Lily Garden, Native Plant Garden, and a Shrub Garden. 

Preparing the site for your rain garden so it absorbs rainwater and does not retain standing water for periods longer than a few days and planting and mulching your rain garden is very important.  

City Reimbursement

The City will reimburse citizens based on the total square footage of the rain garden at the rate of $4 per square foot. 

How to Participate in the Program:

Part 1

• Complete the application and include a sketch of the proposed rain garden with a list of the plants that will be used.
• Program applications will be taken on an on-going basis until all allocated funding has been spent during that fiscal year.
• The City will review the application and meet with the property owner to discuss the proposed garden.
• The City will send a potential reimbursement amount along with an approval to begin building the rain garden.

Part 2

• Build the rain garden that was approved by the City.
• Contact the Public Works Department if there are any questions about the rain garden.

Part 3

• The property owner submits a request for a final project review.  
• A program representative will meet with the property owner to inspect the completed garden.
• Once the project meets the requirements, the City will process the reimbursement.