New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens ~
Ferry Avenue Branch Library

Ferry Avenue Branch Library
852 Ferry Avenue, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey 08104

Google (TM) Map	Site Contact(s)	History	Runoff Managed
Installation	Plant Layout	Maintenance	Photographs

 

Google (TM) Map:

View New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens in a larger map

Site Contact(s):

Jeremiah Bergstrom, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
    

History:

The Ferry Avenue Branch Library rain garden was installed to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from a portion of the library's roof.

This rain garden helps to mitigate nuisance flooding in the area and reduces nonpoint source pollution and stormwater that would otherwise discharge into the City of Camden’s combined sewer system.

To address the water quality issues associated with increased stormwater runoff, demonstration projects like this rain garden are essential.

Type of Runoff Managed:

This rain garden manages stormwater runoff from a portion of the library's roof via redirected downspouts. The two downspouts that originally directed runoff to the road were disconnected and redirected to the rain garden to serve as the inlets.

Installation:

The rain garden was installed in April 2012 by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff and members of the community as part of Camden SMART Initiative's Earth Day week.  New Jersey Tree Foundation’s Green Streets Program excavated the rain garden with a backhoe.  Coarse sand and compost were mixed into the native soil to help improve drainage and the quality of the soil.  The two downspouts that were originally directed to the road were disconnected and redirected to the rain garden to serve as the inlets. The plants that were installed in this rain garden were purchased from North Creek Nurseries, Inc.

Approval to install the rain garden was granted by the Board of Directors at the Ferry Avenue Library.  This rain garden was funded by a 319(h) grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Plant Layout:

Rain Garden Map

Plant List:

Beardtongue
Black-eyed Susan
Creek Sedge
Goldenrod
Great Blue Lobelia
Obedient Plant
Short-toothed Mountain Mint
Soft Rush
Wild Indigo

Click here to download Adobe Reader to view the rain garden map and the plant list fact sheets.
 

Maintenance:

This rain garden is maintained by staff and volunteers at the Ferry Avenue Branch Library.

Photographs & Videos:

Click here for photographs of the Ferry Avenue Branch Library rain garden.

Click here for a documentary video about this rain garden. This video was prepared by students at Urban Promise Academy in Camden, New Jersey.