By: Krystal Smalley
KSmalley@wbcowqel.com
It may just look like new gardens to brighten up the place but Crawford Park District Director Bill Fisher is proud of what they have been able to accomplish.
The Park District received a $65,030 Ohio EPA Surface Water Improvement Fund grant in order to implement a storm water and nutrient reduction demonstration project at Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center. Fisher, Oberlander’s landscape manager John Monnette, and Oberfield’s Tom Boren proudly showed off the newest additions to the Park District Friday afternoon.
“This storm water management demonstration area is here more for the everyday citizen to bring to the forefront the idea of what the citizens can do to help in the big picture of reducing pollutants in our streams, rivers right here,” explained Fisher. “Reducing pollutants is everybody’s responsibility and if we don’t handle it we don’t want another dead zone up north.”
“We kind of want to help everybody see what they can do about it (pollutants),” said Fisher.
A rain garden has been installed in front of the Nature Center to catch runoff from the roof and rain barrels have been positioned on both sides. Improvements were made to the existing wetland and bioretention ponds located near the park’s entrance. Portions of the parking lot were also converted using permeable pavers. Interpretive educational signage will soon be installed in the areas to provide information to park visitors.
Fisher credited Oberlander’s for doing the lion’s share of the work at the Nature Center.
“Having something like this is very manageable, I think, for homeowners,” said Fisher. He said homeowners can easily excavate their own rain garden and rain barrels can be bought from the Soil and Water Conservation District.
“I really like the way Oberlander’s saw this and drew it up for us,” Fisher said, gesturing to the improved paver parking lot. The life expectancy of the pavers is expected to be 25 years.
Fisher also gave credit to the Ohio EPA. “We’re indebted to them for their support, not just financially but their information.”
The Crawford Park District will be holding an official opening for the storm water demonstration area from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sept. 28.