Garden of Water from Open Space Institute on Vimeo.
Hard-working rain gardens bring nature into the city, attract birds and butterflies, and filter runoff for healthier rivers and cleaner drinking water. Partners in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative are working with homeowners, schools, and businesses to install rain gardens across the basin.
This short film by Open Space Institute showcases the rain garden at Abington School, installed by Tookany-Tacony Frankford Watershed Partnership to help restore Jenkintown Creek. Jenkintowttn Creek is an impaired stream in suburban Philadelphia that empties into the Schulykill River
It captures the enthusiasm and commitment of the students at Abington School as they do their part to install plants in the rain garden adjoining the creek near their school. The Jenkintown Creek Restoration Project, recently honored as one of 23 recipients of the Pennsylvania Environmental Excellence Awards, is an ambitious effort to utilize green infrastructure to reduce storm water run-off and improve water quality in the Philadelphia suburbs as part of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative.
The project involves four rain gardens, a 75-foot bioretention feature, bioswale and wetland enhancements, streambank stabilization along 3.7 miles of the creek. Over 3,775 herbaceous plants and 1,260 trees have been planted and more than 1,000 volunteers and students have participated in learning about stormwater runoff and the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure.