September 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 38
CONSERVATION continued from page 36
conserve water where it is found, and more importantly, to use water conservation efforts as an opportunity to inform and educate the public.
North Carolina's Charlotte-Mecklenburg Parks
and Recreation Department installed interpretive
signage to inform and educate the public wherever they are implementing water conservation measures-at recreational access points on drinking
water reservoirs, in nature preserves, and even water conservation-themed signs above the waterless
urinals in park restrooms.
Conservation Task Force member Gary Pruitt, director of the Hancock Park District in Findlay, Ohio,
wrote up three examples of best conservation practices
that any agency could implement at a very modest cost.
■ Rain Garden: A rain garden is simply a planted
depression that slows and fi lters rainwater runoff
from impervious surfaces such as building roofs
and parking lots.
To demonstrate the benefits of creating sustainable
landscapes that actively improve environmental quality
and save funds, three agenNatural resources
cies worked together to install
managers and parks
a demonstration rain garden
at the Ohio Agricultural Seradministrators are
vice Center in Hancock Counalso catching on to
ty, Ohio. The goal is to raise
the need to conserve
awareness and educate the
community about the benefits
water where it is
of a rain garden and its pracfound, and more
tical application in managing
importantly, to use
stormwater runoff from impermeable surfaces. As a demwater conservation
onstration project, this rain
efforts as an
garden serves as an excellent
opportunity to
example of what can be done
at low cost on public lands and
inform and educate
home sites to reduce the negathe public.
tive effects of stormwater.
A s added benef its, t he
rain garden creates a more
p e r me a ble s u r f ac e t h at
drains water, reduces lawn
36
Parks & Recreation S E P T E M B E R
2 0 1 2 W W W . N R P A . O R G
mai ntena nce, a nd adds beaut y a nd w i ld life
habitat.
■ Rain barrel: The Hancock Park District acquired a
1,000-gallon rain barrel, purchased by their parks
foundation, and located it under the eaves of the roof
of the Richard S. " Doc " Phillips Discovery Center
to collect rainwater draining off the roof, much like
old-time cisterns used to do on farm houses of the
19th century. This large poly agricultural barrel was
outfitted with a collector funnel with a removable
screen for easy debris cleaning and a 90-degree
handle spigot for direct water flow or hose usage.
The on-demand flow of water from the rain barrel
helps with animal upkeep, programs, and other
site activities. A handwashing station and a hose
for watering landscape plants as well as filling and
cleaning the small landscape pond near the birdwatching station have all made use of the rain barrel's water supply.
■ Bioswale: A bioswale is simply a wide, shallow ditch
lined with vegetation, rip rap stone, or mulch intended
to slow the velocity of stormwater runoff, filter water
while it is contained, and allow water to percolate into
the ground or gently overflow if capacity is reached.
Bioswales are a low-cost, low-tech form of bioretention structures used for treating surface runoff from
parking lots and other impermeable surfaces. At
the Doc Phillips Discovery Center of the Hancock
Park District, stepping stones have been placed in
the larger bioswales for the public and kids to walk
through for the study and enjoyment of insects, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic ecology, plants, seeds,
and seed dispersal mechanisms.
Droughts are creating significant challenges for
park and recreation agencies, but they can also
be an opportunity to engage and educate the public in conservation and stewardship of natural resources. Employing these simple techniques -and
explaining them through signage and educational
programs-can allow the public to see water conservation with new eyes and in ways that they can
take home to use in their own backyards.
RICHARD. J. DOLESH is NRPA's Vice President for
Conservation and Parks.
September 2012 - Parks & Recreation
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2012 - Parks & Recreation
September 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 1
September 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 2
September 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 3
September 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 4
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