Posters, Maps & Illustrations: INNOVATIVE STORMWATER PROGRAMS
Rainwater harvesting in New York City community gardens
The Water Resources Group (WRG), is a coalition of environmental and community garden groups formed in 2003 to introduce rainwater harvesting systems into New York City community gardens. It was spearheaded by GreenThumb (the community gardens arm of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation), the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) and other groups.
Because there was little published information or working models for collecting rainwater in urban settings, WRG members designed and installed their own prototype systems in several community gardens, using plastic barrels donated by an olive and pickle importer in Queens.
In December 2006, the Water Resources Group produced a map of community garden rainwater harvesting sites see the map (*NOTE: this is an external link)
Background
Many of New York's community gardens are a result of "guerrilla gardening" - the taking over abandoned/deteriorated city lots - and until 2002 these gardens were able to use fire hydrants as a source of water. But in the summer of 2002, a drought prompted the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to suspend hydrant permits and restrict watering in community gardens. In response to this crisis, the Water Resources Group was formed to find an alternative to city water that would sustain city gardens through future dry spells.
Current Projects
This year, the Water Resources Group (WRG) is planning a "dress-up-your-rainwater- harvesting-system contest" for all gardens in the city for the 2008 growing season. Some supplies will be available to contestants that are members of registered Green Thumb community gardens. Judges will visit all of the beautification projects in August and awards will be given out at ceremony in September 2008.
Categories in Judging are as follows:
Best use of plant material
• Water conservation
• Native species
• Aesthetic design
• Theme planting
• Integration of overflow solutions
• Creative use of trellises
Best community involvement
• Widest age range involvement
• Fresh participation in the garden
• Most resourceful
Best artwork
• Aesthetic design
• Use of natural materials
• Originality
• Neighborhood identification
Best educational installation
• Clearest communication of combined sewer overflow issue in NYC
• Clearest modeling of how the rain water harvesting system works
• Most inspiring
• Best maintained and functional
• Best replicable
• Best use of recycled materials
• Best use of materials
Go to the
New York City's Water Resources Group website
The Water Resources Group (WRG), is a coalition of environmental and community garden groups formed in 2003 to introduce rainwater harvesting systems into New York City community gardens. It was spearheaded by GreenThumb (the community gardens arm of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation), the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) and other groups.
Because there was little published information or working models for collecting rainwater in urban settings, WRG members designed and installed their own prototype systems in several community gardens, using plastic barrels donated by an olive and pickle importer in Queens.
In December 2006, the Water Resources Group produced a map of community garden rainwater harvesting sites see the map (*NOTE: this is an external link)
Background
Many of New York's community gardens are a result of "guerrilla gardening" - the taking over abandoned/deteriorated city lots - and until 2002 these gardens were able to use fire hydrants as a source of water. But in the summer of 2002, a drought prompted the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to suspend hydrant permits and restrict watering in community gardens. In response to this crisis, the Water Resources Group was formed to find an alternative to city water that would sustain city gardens through future dry spells.
Current Projects
This year, the Water Resources Group (WRG) is planning a "dress-up-your-rainwater- harvesting-system contest" for all gardens in the city for the 2008 growing season. Some supplies will be available to contestants that are members of registered Green Thumb community gardens. Judges will visit all of the beautification projects in August and awards will be given out at ceremony in September 2008.
Categories in Judging are as follows:
Best use of plant material
• Water conservation
• Native species
• Aesthetic design
• Theme planting
• Integration of overflow solutions
• Creative use of trellises
Best community involvement
• Widest age range involvement
• Fresh participation in the garden
• Most resourceful
Best artwork
• Aesthetic design
• Use of natural materials
• Originality
• Neighborhood identification
Best educational installation
• Clearest communication of combined sewer overflow issue in NYC
• Clearest modeling of how the rain water harvesting system works
• Most inspiring
• Best maintained and functional
• Best replicable
• Best use of recycled materials
• Best use of materials
Go to the
New York City's Water Resources Group website
1st September 2008 · by
