May 30th, 2012

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Red Bridge Community Park

Do you have downspouts that you can not figure out where to run them?

Do you have area of your yard that you just can not get to drain well?

Do you like to water your flowers, but hate using your softened water?

Beautiful and functional, rain gardens make use of native plants and soil to manage storm water runoff.  Loose, absorbant soil in a shallow bowl shape will collect the rainwater running off your roof, driveway, and other hard surfaces.  Perennial native plants will help absorb the water, and the sand and soil will filter out pollutants.

A rain garden will…

          …help reduce pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams

          …help recharge groundwater

          …keep rainwater on your property where it naturally belongs

          …create native habitat for wildlife and butterflies

          …beautify your landscape

Did you know that half of all stormwater pollution comes from residential property?

Nearly 70% of the pollution in our surface waters gets there through stormwater runoff, according to studies by the Environmental Protection Agency.  And 50% of that pollution is chemical pollution from products we use for our yard care and household activities and from our yard waste

Come join the Town of Cicero and the Hamilton County Soil and Water District in this unique workshop.  You will learn how rain barrels and rain gardens can be a colorful, low maintenance way to deal with your storm water and help prevent pollution in Morse Reservoir.  To register for the event download the form below and submit it to the Cicero Plan Commission by May 25th.  Although the event is free to local residents, we need to know how many people to plan for so we will have enough space.

The Hamilton County Soil and Water District provides many resources to help you design and implement a rain garden on your property for free.  Visit their site at www.hcswcd.org to learn more about ways to beautify your yard with a economic and low maintenance rain garden.

Workshop Registration

Registration Form.