Park Rain Gardens

In 2005 the need for additional parking at the trailhead next to the entrance to Bath Community Activity Center Park became apparent. However, adding impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, increases erosion and risk of flooding. Rain water runs off parking lot surfaces very quickly and this runoff increases the load on nearby streams.

After considerable research Mike Rorar, park administrator, decided to incorporate two rain gardens into the site design for the new parking area. In 2007 the site was contoured to route rainwater toward two new rain gardens. The rain gardens were designed by John Vittum.

Rain garden basins were constructed with a sand / soil mix to provide a good home for plants and allow water to soak into the ground. Overflow pipes were installed to prevent damage to the rain gardens during heavy rains.

Finally, the rain gardens were planted with native species selected for water tolerance and the sun /shade balance at each location.

Botanical Name	Common Name

Carex Grayi	Burr Sedge
Carex Stricta	Tussock Sedge
Carex Vulinoidea	Fox Sedge
Rudbeckia Subtomentosa	Sweet Black-eyed Susan
Iris Versicolor	Wild Iris
Juncus Torreyi	Torrey’s Rush
Lobelia Cardinalis	Red Cardinal Flower
Lobelia Siphiltica	Great Blue Lobelia

Carex Bromoides	Brome Hummock Sedge
Carex Normalis	Spreading Oval Sedge
Athyrium Filex Femina	Lady Fern
Onoclea Sensibilis	Sensitive Fern