Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station [Water Resources Program]

Rain Gardens


New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens ~
Cramer Hill Community Garden

 

Rain garden on left when facing community garden site from North 20th Street

Rain garden on right when facing community garden site from North 20th Street

Cramer Hill Community Garden
North 20th Street & River Avenue, Camden, Camden County, New Jersey 08105

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)
:


Mike Haberland, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden and Burlington Counties
    


History
:


The Cramer Hill Community Garden rain gardens were installed to beautify the site and to intercept, treat, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from the surrounding neighborhood.

These rain gardens help 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.

These rain gardens are part of the Cooper River Watershed. The Cooper River watershed is characterized by extensive residential and commercial development, and as a result, its streams are severely impacted by increased stormwater runoff. To address the water quality issues associated with increased stormwater runoff, demonstration projects like these rain gardens are essential.


Type of Runoff Managed
:


These rain gardens, situated along North 20th Street, manage stormwater runoff from the surrounding neighborhood.



Installation
:


The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County, Camden County Soil Conservation District, and the Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation participated in the installation of these rain gardens in June 2011, which was approved by the City of Camden. With assistance from Fleet Construction & Remodeling Co., Inc., the existing soil was excavated and used to create shallow berms. The remaining soil was hauled away and disposed off-site. To provide adequate infiltration, approximately 8 cubic yards of a 50% sand and 50% compost soil mix was tilled into the existing soil.  Approximately two (2) cubic yards of topsoil was applied to provide additional nutrients for the plants. The native plants that were installed in the rain gardens were purchased from Popes' Garden.

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:

Black-eyed Susan
Foxglove Beardtongue
Grey Goldenrod
New England Aster
Purple Coneflower
Sweet Pepperbush/Summersweet

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


Maintenance
:

   
These rain gardens are maintained by the Cramer Hill Community Development Corporation.


Photographs & Videos:

Click here for photographs of the Cramer Hill Community Garden rain gardens.

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

 


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