Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station [Water Resources Program]

Rain Gardens


New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens ~
Goodwin Avenue

 


Goodwin Avenue
67-69 Goodwin Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07112

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):

Amy Rowe, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex and Passaic Counties
    

History:

The Goodwin Avenue rain garden is approximately 400 square feet and was installed to intercept, treat and infiltrate stormwater runoff from an adjacent roadway.  This rain garden serves to beautify this vacant lot in the City of Newark. According to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection landuse land cover data, over 85% of the City of Newark is considered impervious cover.  As a result, sewer networks can become overwhelmed with stormwater runoff, causing localized flooding, combined sewer overflows, and ultimately a polluted Passaic River.  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 an adjacent roadway.


Installation:

This rain garden was excavated in November 2010 and planted in June 2011.  Members of the Greater Newark Conservancy and participants in the Clean and Green: Newark's Transitional Jobs Program were trained in rain garden installation as part of a “green job” training workshop.  Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program conducted the training and supervised the work crew throughout the excavation process.

The rain garden was excavated by hand with shovels. Bank run sand and topsoil were added to improve both the infiltration rate and soil nutrient capacity of the rain garden.  The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County, New Jersey Tree Foundation, Greater Newark Conservancy and community members from the surrounding neighborhood assisted with the rain garden planting during a community planting day.  All plant materials were supplied by Pinelands Nursery and Supply

The rain garden was installed as part of a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 319(h) grant entitled “Environmental Justice for the City of Newark:  Stormwater Education and BMP Implementation to Control Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Discharges." 



 Plant Layout:

Rain Garden Map Coming Soon!

Plant List:

Black-eyed Susan
Blackhaw Viburnum
Blazing Star
New England Aster
Purple Coneflower


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 the Greater Newark Conservancy and community members.


Photographs:

Click here for photographs of the Goodwin Avenue rain garden.

 


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