Partner: Sierra Club Michigan Chapter
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Federation

What is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a native plant garden designed to capture, store and soak up rain water rather than have it runoff into storm drains.  Reducing water flowing into storm drains helps reduce pollution in our local rivers and prevents flooding while providing food and habitat for pollinator insects, butterflies, birds and other wildlife. In addition, rain gardens:

• beautify our yards and neighborhoods
• recharge our local groundwater
• clean water through the natural processes of the plants
• improve quality of life
• encourage knowledge of the native plants of our region and their benefits
• may be eligible for “green credit” to apply against drainage fee [Detroit]
• attracts pollinators and beneficial insects that help gardens and farms be more  productive. 
• serves as a tangible way to contribute to water protection efforts as a community

2024 HOMEOWNER PROGRAM

Apply NOW for a Rain Garden!

Applications accepted through Friday, May 10, 2024 for August 2024 installations. Workshop course is free and open to the public to join- see below for workshop schedule details!

Email RainSmart@therouge.org if you have questions or need assistance filling out the application or need a paper/PDF application mailed to you.

Home owners, businesses, community organizations and institutions (i.e. municipal buildings, libraries, activity centers, schools, parks) may apply. Eight (8) residential-scale rain garden applicants will be awarded all materials, plants, and support to build their own rain garden with community volunteers. Additional rain garden support/ opportunities available for those who attend all classes. Gardens are planted in the front yard or visible area to further community education and outreach around rain gardens. Please see the 2024 application for additional info.

Rain Gardens to the Rescue – 2024 Residential Rain Gardens are preferred in the following locations:

• Detroit zip code 48217 (Detroit Southend)
• Dearborn zip codes 48120 & 48126 (Dearborn Southend)
• City of River Rouge zip code 48218

RESIDENTIAL RAIN GARDEN APPLICATION DEADLINE is Friday, May 10, 2024
Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis- Apply Now!
*Additional funding opportunities available for those who apply and attend full course*

The Rain Gardens to the Rescue program is a series of 5 workshops, plus hands-on garden installations.  The educational workshops are FREE and open to the public! They are designed to teach you about rain gardens, their purpose, and how to create your own rain garden.  Hands-on garden installations with your community provide an opportunity to educate and inspire members of your organization, your neighbors, and your family to create their own rain gardens.

Workshop Series Information

Workshops will take place from 6-8pm at Salina Intermediate School, 2623 Salina St, Dearborn on the following dates:

• Wednesday, May 29 – Workshop 1: Introduction to Rain Gardens
• Wednesday, June 5 – Workshop 2: Native Plants, Site Conditions and Garden Sizing
• Wednesday, June 12 – Workshop 3: Rain Garden Design Exercise
• Thursday, June 20 – *Workshop 4: Maintenance, will be held at another southwest Detroit area site. Garden location TBD* [Note: No Class on Wed. June 19th for Juneteenth Holiday]
• Wednesday, June 26 – Workshop 5: Design Reveal & Class Celebration

Rain Garden Installations

In addition to planting your own garden, selected rain garden recipients must actively participate in at least two plantings (aside from their own) OR pay $40 towards supplies. Garden plantings will take place in August on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8pm and Saturdays from 9am to 12pm (unless otherwise coordinated with program staff).

Just Attend the Educational Workshops

Not sure if you’re ready for a rain garden or just want to gain more knowledge about native plants and managing stormwater? Sign up NOW to attend our FREE educational rain garden course without applying for a garden. Additional funding may be available for those who attend the course and plan to install a rain garden of their own.

Please reach out if you have any questions, need assistance filling out the application, or have accessibility related inquiries! Email RainSmart@therouge.org

Are you a resident wanting to apply for a rain garden for your home front yard? Look for our 2024 garden application in early spring or reach out directly to us! We look forward to welcoming homeowners at our Spring 2024 Rain Gardens to the Rescue – Residential workshop series. We encourage anyone interested in learning more come to these free and open workshops.

Thank you for your interest in Rain Gardens to the Rescue!

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What is Rain Gardens to the Rescue?

Sewage and urban runoff are polluting Detroit’s rivers.  We invite you to help prevent this pollution by putting Rain Gardens to the Rescue! Rain Gardens are a low cost solution to urban stormwater problems.  They bring joy to our gardeners and help beautify the community.  

Detroit residents and civic leaders can prevent the pollution of our Great Lakes from overflow of storm-water by putting Rain Gardens to the Rescue! The Rain Gardens to the Rescue program is a series of workshops designed to teach people how to create rain gardens of their own. As volunteers become more aware and engaged in the program our hope is that they will become rain garden ambassadors in the community – assisting others with rain garden plantings and spreading the message about the importance and need for rain gardens in our communities.

The Rain Gardens to the Rescue program is a series of 5 (five) workshops plus hands-on rain garden installations.  The workshops are designed to teach you about rain gardens, their purpose and the steps to take to create a rain garden of your own.  Garden installations provide an opportunity to educate your neighbors and family to do the same. Residents and institutions (i.e. libraries, activity centers, places of faith) are encouraged to apply to participate in the program. 

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What is a Combined Sewer?

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2023 Rain Gardens- Before, Design & After

Amber’s Rain Garden in Detroit

Grace’s Rain Garden in Detroit

Tammy’s Rain Garden in River Rouge

Sanaa’s Rain Garden at Lowrey School in Dearborn

Check out the 2022 rain gardens!

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2015-2023 Rain Gardens Installed

Quotes from Past Program Participants

I have wanted a rain garden for 10 years and in June of this year, I was finally able to join Rain Gardens to the Rescue… Each class session helped me to learn why rain gardens are an important addition to any landscape, how they support pollinators and birds, and how rain gardens can help mitigate stormwater runoff. I also learned how to calculate a rain garden area, the best rain garden plants native to Michigan, and different ways to design my rain garden. Thank you to all of the volunteers and to the wonderful instructors, Elayne and Jaclyn! I am excited to see my rain garden blooming for years to come.

-Angela Lugo-Thomas, 2022

Participating in the rain garden program this year was meaningful in so many ways.  It was great meeting fellow Detroiters engaged and invested in improving the infrastructure of the city, in small but significant ways.  Second, it felt so good to focus on something other than COVID, working outside and getting our hands dirty.   The classes were incredibly informative and inspiring, making me want to install a second rain garden in 2022.  Working with the staff from Sierra Club and Friends of the Rouge was so effortless; they made the hard work of digging up the sod fun (well, sort of) and always had such positive attitudes. They were responsive and always supportive and encouraging.  Last, I am truly appreciative of the City’s commitment to improving the neighborhoods and providing Detroiters with opportunities and tools to improve our specific neighborhood.  It was a great experience from start to finish.

-Carla Groh, 2021

Installing a rain garden during a ‘500-year flood’ gave me a deeper appreciation for the project. At first I was focused on the benefits it has for pollinators and was excited to have one less section of grass to cut. I knew about the relief rain gardens have on the city’s stormwater infrastructure but this was made even clearer to me when you see the damage flooding has on homes and pollution in our lakes and rivers. The course itself was very educational. I believe it balanced support with allowing you to design and own the plans yourself. I was very impressed by the access to materials and tools, especially the wide variety of native plants to choose from. I look forward to seeing my rain garden fill in and bloom in the next couple of years. A big thanks to Friends of the Rouge and Sierra Club for the resources and engaging staff that made this project possible.

-Alicia Martinez, 2021

Building the garden was an enjoyable experience as it brought out my neighbors and we were able to work on a community project together. Some neighbors are thinking about getting a rain garden of their own!

-E.B. Jordan, 2018

I greatly enjoyed meeting people with different backgrounds coming together for the same cause and helping each other out during planting days. It was a win-win, all the way around. Not just for houses of worship and residents but for the Rouge River too.

-Tom Scherf, 2018

…Where neighbors look out and help one of another. Now Rain Gardens to the Rescue is capturing those days again throughout the city with the same impact. Those days are coming back again and neighborhoods and resident’s can turn their yards into a garden of hope.

-Sonja Hill, 2016

Friends of the Rouge & Sierra Club MI have been partnering since 2015 to install GSI (Green Stormwater Infrastructure) rain gardens to help manage stormwater and improve local rivers and the Great Lakes.