Friday, August 21, 2009
Rain garden dedication ceremony at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden: A community conservation collaboration
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Contact for more information:
Wendy Knipe Bredhold Media Relations Specialist, News & Information Services 812/461-5259 Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden has partnered with the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Evansville Zoological Society, and the University of Southern Indiana to unveil a newly planted rain garden exhibit. The rain garden dedication ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, August 28, inside the entry plaza at the Zoo. Rain gardens are conservation tools used to soak up the rainwater from surfaces like driveways, roofs, compact lawns, and parking lots. To be effective, a rain garden should be planted with native plants so it will adjust to the climate and soil conditions of the area this also will lessen maintenance for the first year. The plants have deep roots that allow rain water to percolate into the ground. This helps prevent overflow of excess water into sewer systems which causes flooding and poor water quality. The rain garden was funded with a Backyard Conservation Grant from the Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which is extending the grant program to all property owners in Vanderburgh County. Davie Sue Wallace, vice-chair of the Board of Supervisors for the SWCD, said, "Anyone who owns property and meets the criteria is eligible for this cost-share/rebate program. The program includes three conservation opportunities: the installation of rain barrels, installing a rain garden, and planting native plants. For more information about the program go to www.vandswcd.org or call 812/867-0729. The rain garden is one of many Zoo exhibits allowing the public to learn through demonstration. Paul Bouseman, the Zoo's botanical curator, said, "The Zoo is a community place where people can learn informally." USI students and faculty in the Pott College of Science and Engineering's STEM Early Undergraduate Research Program helped build the rain garden. The program is designed to engage students majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) in hands-on research early in their college careers. For more information, contact Elissa Bakke, project coordinator for the USI Center for Applied Research, at eibakke@usi.edu or 812/454-8946. |
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