Jones Building Rain Garden
This spring, the Village of Franklin will excavate portion of an existing asphalt parking lot located at the
Jones Building off of Franklin Road and create a 51 foot by 16 foot rain garden, extend an existing
pathway through the garden to improve walkability, improve the area aesthetics and modify the flow of
traffic in the parking lot to reduce road hazards. Interpretive signage will be installed to provide visitors
information on the project scope.
The Village was successful in obtaining a grant from the Rouge Program Office in the amount of $8,000
for the rain garden portion of the project.
A rain garden is a depression in the landscape, designed and planted to trap, absorb, and filter storm
water runoff and improve water quality. In a rain garden, plants and soils filter storm water naturally,
removing nutrients and other pollutants (sediment, heavy metals, etc. from nearby paved or “hard”
surfaces). In clay soils (like Franklin area), the rain water is absorbed by the compost and plants. A
functioning rain garden should be dry after 48 hours – thereby avoiding mosquito problems.
Native plants (indigenous to the Midwest area) offer many advantages in a rain garden. Typically, native
plants require less water and fertilizer than non-native species – and many are naturally resistant to pests.
Native plants create small ecosystems, attacting birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. The soil mix for
the rain garden blends compost, masonry sand, and topsoil. The compost is an essential ingredient, since
it absorbs water and breaks down pollutants which may be in the runoff.
Village staff are very excited about this project and hope to encourage local residents to install rain
gardens at their property. For questions regarding native plants or rain gardens, please contact SOCWA
at: (248) 546-5818; lfdean2@gmail.com.
Rain Garden After Installation, Spring 2009
Rain Garden, Summer 2012
Rain Garden, Summer 2012
Purple Coneflower