About This Project
Metro Blooms Design+Build helped design and install a system of rain gardens at Mayflower Community Congregational United Church of Christ in South Minneapolis to help direct runoff away from the building foundation and protect water quality in the nearby Diamond Lake.
The first rain garden, on the southeast corner of the building, collects roof runoff that exits from a downspout and is directed into the rain garden via a catchbasin and buried draintile. This rain garden is in a highly visible location at the church’s parking lot entrance. New signage helps educate community members about the rain garden’s water quality benefits!
In the second area, roof runoff had been seeping into the building. We installed waterproofing and a rock swale to protect the building foundation and convey the runoff to another rain garden. Some of the native plants featured in the rain gardens include prairie dropseed, white turtlehead, boneset, culver’s root, and blue flag iris.
The two rain gardens absorb over 54,675 gallons of rainwater annually that would otherwise wash pollutants into Diamond Lake and Minnehaha Creek, providing clean water downstream as well as habitat for pollinators and other wildlife!
This project was funded by a Hennepin County Good Steward grant and a Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood grant.
Design Elements
