Riverwood Neighborhood Rain Gardens, Brooklyn Center

WSB worked with the City of Brooklyn Center to design rain gardens as part of their 2007 Street Reconstruction Project within the Riverwood Neighborhood. This neighborhood is a fully developed residential area located along the Mississippi River. Storm water was discharged directly to the river via storm sewer and there was little opportunity to construct a regional storm water treatment system with the street reconstruction project. WSB worked with City staff to design the rain gardens and included the design and specifications with the construction plans for the street project.

A number of public education meetings were held to identify interested residents, suitable locations, and to discuss the garden and planting design. Through the process, residents learned about the function of rain gardens, how to protect the water quality of the river, and what they would need to do to maintain the garden. Approximately ten gardens were constructed in 2007 and will be planted by the residents with guidance from WSB staff in spring 2008. The project provides treatment of storm water runoff for a 7.5 acre area. This project provided additional water quality protection to the Mississippi River from an area where little treatment was previously provided as well as brought a neighborhood together to protect a valuable water resource.

Rain Garden Brochure

Client: City of Brooklyn Center
Completion: 2008