Rain gardens that are part of a project to remake Ypsilanti's Depot Town are undergoing some additional work to make sure they look good, function properly, and most importantly last.
Tim Colbeck, executive director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority, says there have been questions and concerns about the Cross Street Rain Gardens and what's going wrong with them.
The five gardens are a small part of a $1 million streetscape upgrade for the area, but an important one. They are also a component of the Cross Street Corridor Non-Motorized Enhancement Project
Some of the plants have had trouble surviving and the gardens haven't fully absorbed stormwater to keep it out of drains - the purpose of their design. Recent declines in rainfall may be part of the issue.
However, the Ypsi DDA, the city and the state of Michigan are working with contractors to make things right by adjusting the inlets to each garden to ensure that they have the proper soil mix. The new and improved rain gardens should be completed by the fall of 2012.
Source: Tim Colbeck, executive director, Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kim North Shine
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