The Hayes Park Rain Stormwater Infiltration Garden is a project that was begun in late December of 2021 and represents a partnership between four major partners; the City of Adairsville, the Friends of Hayes Park, Keep Bartow Beautiful (a department of Bartow County Government), and the Bartow County Master Gardeners. This garden represents a practical method for mitigating stormwater. It is a method that can be used by developers and homeowners. Most importantly, it is only feet away from Adairsville Elementary School, providing an accessible environmental laboratory for teachers to teach and students to learn STEM related subjects. Children have an innate tendency to explore. Having access to a fully functioning rain/infiltration garden will nurture that tendency by supporting learning through sensory stimulation (look, see, feel) that engages whole brain learning – an essential element of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
This garden is also a demonstration of many native plant varieties that provide support for pollinator species. “Natives are plants that are a part of the balance of nature that has developed over hundreds or thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem.” – USDA – United States Department of Agriculture. The root systems of native plants are very deep. This is important to control soil erosion. In fact, native plants often have greater biomass below the surface than above. These deep roots help them to withstand both drought and wet conditions. Support of pollinator species is also important. Scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators like bees, butterflies and moths, birds and bats.
Want to build your own – here are some helpful links:
How to Build A Rain Garden – UGA Publication