VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 city planners are unveiling an innovative way to deal with anticipated wetter winters and drier summers in the coming years.
A new park at FishermanB次元官网网址檚 Wharf, expected to open Oct. 2, features a rain garden B次元官网网址� a stream-like gully full of shrubs that captures rainwater runoff from the surrounding area and cleans it before draining to the nearby ocean.
B次元官网网址淭his rain garden allows nature to do its job,B次元官网网址� said Roy Brooke, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 director of sustainability.
B次元官网网址淎ny toxins like lead, copper or zinc will get absorbed by the plants in the rain garden, and will help keep the Inner Harbour cleaner for all of us.B次元官网网址�
The new park includes sitting areas, green space and a walking bridge over the rain garden.
Small hills were created to avoid the unnecessary expense and impact of shipping tonnes of soil out of town, said parks manager Doug DeMarzo.
B次元官网网址淭he cement wall (surrounding the rain garden) actually represents the footprint of the old harbour as well,B次元官网网址� DeMarzo said of the $650,000 renovation that began in April.
Rain gardens already exist in several public and private areas of the city including Trent Street, Oswald Park and The Atrium.
But FishermanB次元官网网址檚 Wharf parkB次元官网网址檚 352-square-metre garden is the largest to date, collecting grey water from more than 14,000 square metres in the surrounding area.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l definitely be seeing more,B次元官网网址� Brooke said, adding the city is planning to create a storm water utility in 2014 that will provide incentives to developers to include rain gardens in their plans.
While residents initially called for a running stream in the park, engineers determined it was not worth disturbing the contaminated soil at a deeper depth, DeMarzo said.
Howard Markson, a nearby St. Lawrence Street resident, said the park renovation is a deluxe improvement on the previous field.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 got an environmental payoff, too,B次元官网网址� Markson said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 beautiful. I love it.B次元官网网址�
The grand opening will take place Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. to noon.
dpalmer@vicnews.com
