New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens ~
Allentown High School

Allentown High School
27 High Street, Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey 08501

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):

Steven E. Yergeau, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
    

History:

The Allentown High School rain garden was installed to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from an adjacent parking lot.

The RCE Water Resources Program delivered a Stormwater Management in Your Schoolyard educational program to the AP Environmental Science students of Allentown High School in May 2013.  This program consisted of a PowerPoint presentation that covered what a watershed is, sources of nonpoint source pollution, and an overview of rain gardens. Following the presentation, the students planted, mulched and watered the rain garden that was installed at their school.

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 parking lot next to the AP Building on the school grounds.

Installation:

The rain garden was installed in May 2013 by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff and the Upper Freehold School District Department of Buildings and Grounds staff. The rain garden was excavated by using a machine to remove the top layer of sod, and then shovels were used to reach the appropriate depth. A three inch layer of mulch was spread throughout the rain garden to help prevent weeds. Topsoil was applied to provide additional nutrients for the plants. The native plants that were installed by the students in this rain garden were purchased from New Moon Nursery.

Approval to install the rain garden was granted by the Principal at Allentown High School.  

Plant Layout:

Rain Garden Map

Rain Garden Parameters:

Rain garden size - 200 square feet

Drainage area - 1,000 square feet

Plant List:

Black-Eyed Susan
Cardinal Flower 'Fried Green Tomatoes'
Foxglove Beardtongue
Purple Coneflower
Sedge
Virginia Wild Rye

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 students at Allentown High School.

Photographs:

Click here for photographs of the Allentown High School rain garden.