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Rain Gardens
The Rain Garden at Electric Lake/Mill Pond
Mill Road, Park Ridge, Bergen County, New Jersey 07656
| Google (TM) Map | Site Contact(s) | History | Runoff Managed |
| Installation | Plant Layout | Maintenance | Photographs |
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James McDermott, Park Ridge Green Team
The Borough of Park Ridge and the Park Ridge Green Team created this rain garden as Phase II of the Wildlife Interaction Plan for the Pascack Brook and Electric Lake area.
The intent of the Rain Garden is to demonstrate sustainable stormwater runoff solutions and continue to improve the lake and stream for wildlife and ecosystems through natural plantings.
This rain garden manages stormwater runoff from Mill Road and adjacent properties.
This rain garden was installed in May 2014. The Borough of Park Ridge Department of Public Works performed the rough excavation, while Gil Santos Landscaping of Park Ridge and volunteers from the Park Ridge Green Team built the retaining wall, aerated the site, and leveled the base.
The rain garden was excavated using a backhoe to remove the top layer of sod, and then shovels were used to reach the appropriate depth. Next one yard of smooth gravel was spread in the base, and then two yards of native soil and three yards of topsoil were added to improve infiltration and nutrient content. Three yards of rock were used to construct a retaining wall. River rock was used for the catch basin and overflow.
A layer of mulch was spread throughout the rain garden to help prevent weed growth. The Park Ridge Green Team members, Park Ridge High School Environmental Club members and community volunteers planted the rain garden. The native plants that were installed in the rain garden were purchased from BK Perennials, Wild Birds Unlimited, Victoria’s Nursery, Rare Find Nursery, and Monarch Watch.
The Park Ridge Green Team wrote a grant for submission under the Sustainable Jersey Small Grant Program, which resulted in the Borough being awarded $2,000.00 to implement the plan. The grant was awarded in 2013 and was funded by Wal-Mart.
Rain Garden Parameters:
Rain garden size - 300 square feet
Plant List:
Big Bluestem
Blazing Star
Bluejoint Grass
Bonset
Butterfly Milkweed
Buttonbush
Cardinal Flower
Cranberrybush Viburnum
Hackberry
Indiangrass
Ironweed
Joe-Pye Weed
New England Aster
Redbuds
Rosemallow
Seaside Goldenrod
Serviceberry
Swamp Milkweed
Wild Bergamot
Wild Indigo
Click here to download Adobe Reader to view the rain garden map and the plant list fact sheets.
This rain garden is maintained by Park Ridge Green Team volunteers.
For photographs of the rain garden at Electric Lake/Mill Pond please check the Park Ridge Green Team's social media pages:
