An 800 sq. ft. rain garden was designed and installed to reduce runoff from the school campus, increase infiltration, and reduce stormwater pollution from entering an unnamed tributary to the Wissahickon Creek. The students at the school were involved in related classroom education for over six months prior to the installation, learning about stream health, stormwater pollution, and opportunities to green their school and reduce its impact on the watershed.
In 2015, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) was awarded a grant to develop a green master plan for the school. PDE partnered with Temple Ambler and Rowan University to develop the master plan. The first part of the planning process was to engage the students in envisioning what their school could look like. Then, partners engaged the teachers, parents, and commuinty in a design charrette to include their vision in the final plan. Students from Temple Ambler presented their draft master plans and received feedback from teachers, parents, and community members. A grad student worked to develop the final master plan. It will be used to apply for grants in order to implement the components identified in the plan.
In addition to developing the green master plan, the Montessori School has installed 4 rain barrels and will be installing 3 downspount planters to mitigate stormwater runoff from the school’s roof.
Project Details
Workgroup: Stormwater
Source of Funding: PA Department of Environmental Protection
Date of Completion: 2017
General Location: Wissahickon Creek Watershed
Leading Organization: Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, University of Temple Center for Sustainable Communities, Rowan University
Cost:
PHOTO GALERY
