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Rain Gardens
The Neighborhood Center
278 Kaighns Avenue, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey 08103
| Google (TM) Map | Site Contact(s) | History | Runoff Managed |
| Installation | Plant Layout | Maintenance | Photographs |
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Jeremiah Bergstrom, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
The Neighborhood Center rain garden was installed to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from a portion of a roof of the neighboring building. A rainwater harvesting cistern was also installed at the site to capture rainwater from The Neighborhood Center’s main building to water the adjacent fruit and vegetable garden.
The rain garden and cistern were installed to serve as a demonstration for the staff and visitors of The Neighborhood Center. The rain garden and cistern also help to mitigate nuisance flooding in the area and to reduce nonpoint source pollution and stormwater that would otherwise discharge into the City of Camden’s combined sewer system.
This rain garden manages stormwater runoff from a portion of the roof of the neighboring building via a downspout.
The rain garden was installed in May 2012 by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff. The 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 plants that were installed in this rain garden were purchased from Pinelands Nursery & Supply.
Approval to install the rain garden was granted by the Director of The Neighborhood Center. This rain garden was funded by a 319(h) grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
A 1,100 gallon cistern was installed in September 2012 by Elite National Water Management, LLC National/American Waterproofing. The rainwater harvesting cistern was installed to capture rainwater from The Neighborhood Center’s main building to water the adjacent fruit and vegetable garden.
Approval to install the cistern was granted by the Director of The Neighborhood Center. This cistern was funded by a grant from the Campbell Soup Foundation.
Plant List:
Beardtongue
Beebalm
Black-eyed Susan
Blazing Star
Butterfly Milkweed
Creek Sedge
Cutleaf Coneflower
False Indigo
Goldenrod
Ironweed
Joe-pye Weed
New England Aster
Obedient Plant
Purple Coneflower
Sneezeweed
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 staff and volunteers at The Neighborhood Center.
Click here for photographs of The Neighborhood Center rain garden.
Click here for photographs of The Neighborhood Center cistern.
Click here for a documentary video about this rain garden and cistern. This video was prepared by students at Urban Promise Academy in Camden, New Jersey.
