The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently selected the City of Lansing’s rain garden project to be a part of its “Implementing Smart Growth Streets” study.
The EPA intends to use the study to explore how the chosen cities implemented green practices and share those best practices with other communities. The project 
is one of only 12 selected projects.
“We feel very honored and respected to be included in that,” says Chad Gamble, director of Public Services for the City of Lansing. “It’s a real testament to the team we have formed to put this program together.
In 2006, the City of Lansing embarked on what is now a $1million rain garden project. The first 23 rain gardens were constructed along Michigan Avenue as a way to improve environmental quality, but also to beautify the concrete corridor.
Gamble’s been traveling around the country talking about the City of Lansing’s rain gardens. He says the city’s rain gardens are unique because other cities with equally harsh climates have had a difficult time implementing rain gardens throughout their cities.
“What we’ve done is build rain gardens to break up concrete in a very harsh environment,” he says.
The city has also added 12 rain gardens of varying size and planter islands to the 200 and 300 blocks of Washington Square in Downtown Lansing.
“This creates gathering spaces,” he says. “It offers up a softening of the atmosphere.”
Source: Chad Gamble, City of Lansing
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie
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