Students team with cities, Conservation District to create rain garden at Central Office


MAYFIELD HEIGHTS – A discussion became a decision that will impact students, the environment and the community for years to come.

With the support of the cities of Highland Heights, Mayfield Heights, the Euclid Creek Watershed and the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, students from Excel’s TECC’s Horticulture program in November created a rain garden that will, in time, improve the quality of the Chagrin River.

Located in front of the Mayfield Board of Education Building, students created a rain garden which will collect and treat storm water generated from the 1,100 square foot roof at the Board building.

“It’s a partnership we are only too happy to support,” said Superintendent Phillip Price. “This really is a true win-win situation for everyone involved, our students, our community and of course the Chagrin River.”

A dedication ceremony of the Rain Garden was held Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at the rain garden, 1101 SOM Center Road.

What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is an attractive landscape feature with perennial native plants which don’t mind getting “wet feet.” Built in a saucer shape, rain gardens are designed to increase infiltration allowing rain and snowmelt to seep naturally into the ground. Native plants assist by soaking up water in their roots which can grow as deep as 15 feet.
At the Board of Education building, the water that previously ran into a storm drain now will divert to the rain garden where it will naturally be filtered of pollutants and recharged before it drains into the Chagrin River.