Kansas City's 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative was launched in November 2005 after "several years of consultations with neighbourhood activists, elected officials, economic development officials, government employees" and others concerned about floods and urban runoff. Stakeholder consultations produced a consensus on the need for a "green" regional approach that would "create a cumulative effect to improve water quality, and to reduce flooding, erosion and pollutants in rivers and streams. "

The five-year goal is literally "10,000 rain gardens in backyards and on any other public and private property."

Central to the initiative is a comprehensive public education plan that engages citizens in the solutions, helping them to learn about their role in water quality and giving them the tools to take action.

The "rain garden," a shallow, basin-shaped garden filled with deep-rooted grasses and flowers became both the symbol and central project for the initiative. In the past several years, several hundred rain gardens as well as rain barrels and bioswales have been installed and are working to reduce runoff.

According to a spokesperson for the initiative:
"The first campaign in the spring had an impact on awareness of the impacts of pollution running into sewers and flowing untreated into streams. A recent survey revealed that Kansas Citians are among the most educated in the nation about where pollution in streams comes from, with 41% correctly citing stormwater runoff as #1 in non-point source pollution. That was a double-digit increase from the previous survey completed six months before the "10,000 Rain Gardens" campaign began.

After Kansas City experienced the warmest January on record, the idea of building rain gardens was appealing as a simple, beautiful and effective way to keep polluted runoff out of sewers and streams. Planting native prairie flowers and grasses became a way each homeowner could participate in serving the greater good."

The website is full of information and incentives to get involved, including a rain garden contest in July 2008 (with a free trip to Washington, DC!), the Garden Angels (a way to donate plants for those who cannot afford them), a gallery of photos (churches, residents, schools, businesses) and online "calculators" to help residents design their rain gardens.

Go to Kansas City's 10,000 Rain Gardens

U.S. Mayors Best Practices. 22 Jan '07
Kansas City's “10,000 Raingardens” Draws Citizens into Regional Fight Against Water Pollution (external link)

To find out size of rain garden is right for you, see their online rain garden calculator (external link)

Editor's Note:

"Kansas City and federal officials are collaborating to turn the massive sewer project looming in the city’s future into a showcase for ways to turn sewer systems green.

Instead of $2.3 billion of concrete, they’re talking about using such progressive engineering techniques as pocket wetlands, vegetative median strips, rooftop gardens and porous pavement."

Kansas City planners are now working with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to come up with the green sewer plans.

as reported in the Kansas City Star