The Village of Pleasant Prairie is pleased to announce the installation of a Demonstration Rain Garden at the Roger Prange Municipal Center located at 8600 Green Bay Road. The Demonstration Rain Garden is located in front of the fuel bay at the municipal center, just north of the main entrance drive, past the parking area. The garden will be used as an example to help the public better understand the concept of rain gardens as a means to help reduce polluted stormwater runoff and reduce flooding.

The design of a rain garden allows stormwater to be collected in a garden featuring native plantings. The water within the rain garden has the opportunity to slowly filter into the ground, as opposed to running off of a lawn or impervious surface and into the storm sewer. This helps reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff received by nearby lakes and rivers. Earlier this spring, Pleasant Prairie received a grant for 300 plants through the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (Root-Pike WIN) and excavated the site for the Demonstration Rain Garden. The Demonstration Garden is open to the pubic for viewing during regular business hours.

"Root-Pike WIN is looking to encourage residents throughout the Kenosha area to plant rain gardens, in an effort to reduce pollution in our lakes and rivers," commented John Steinbrink Jr., Director of Public Works for the Village. "The Village is excited to be a demonstration site for the community." Several other demonstration sites are available throughout southeastern Wisconsin. More information about rain gardens and the Root-Pike WIN is available at rootpikewin.org.