Wetland Rain Garden And Native Trees Demonstration Site

Fuller at Lyon Street, Grand Rapids

Site manager: Patricia

The rain garden at Fuller park was first planted in July of 2004. The garden features a group of native, wet-loving trees and a restoration wetland with skunk cabbage, ferns, and flowering perennials. Existing soils (clay) were used as-is for the garden base.

The garden is on the south side of the parking lot located on Fuller by the park sign.

Update Spring of 2006

This rain garden had an 80% die-off during the first year, and was replanted in May of 2006 by Americorps Groundwater Stewardship members. We planted more swamp milkweed, our best success on this spot, and taking a clue from its success, other wet-loving wetland plants. Iron weed, joe-pye weed, obedient plant, indian grass, monkeyflower and others were planted in the muck. The method for planting in mud we call "plopping"; just dig a hole, then plop, and you're done!

About the site

The site has long been a troublesome spot for City of Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation maintenence staff. A drainage swale was created during park development, and not only stormwater but springwater flows down the channel and ends up in a lawn storm drain. The drain probably goes to Coldbrook Creek, and certainly to the Grand River.

There have always been wet soils in the swale above the drain, and in previous years the site supported a healthy stand of cattails. A short time ago the cattails were removed and turfgrass was established, but the area was very unpleasant to mow. Mower wheels sank into the saturated clay soils and ponds formed. Park visitors walking through the area sank into mud that soaked their shoes.

The spot seemed perfect for a demonstration of re-establishing the native vegetation that thrives in such conditions. We approached the Department of Parks and Recreation and with the idea of creating a wetland rain garden that connected to the existing wooded area. The park staff were enthusiastic. We had trees available obtained from a DTE Energy Tree grant, and plants from JF New and our nursery. All we needed was to get the site ready and plant it.

The day of the dig, staff and a team of WMEAC volunteers discovered that rain garden digging on this site was more like mud-wrestling. People were ankle deep and wrist deep in clay mud and still valiantly ripped up turfgrass to clear the area for planting. Finally, an area 25 feet by 8 feet was ready for planting (or wading!).

We hope that this wetland rain garden will be an inspiration to homeowners and businesses that have troublesome wet spots. People usually try to drain these areas, but a wetland garden is a beautiful solution for these problems.