FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2016
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng, Sam Marksheid, and Vicki DiStefano | (516) 869-7794
North Hempstead Offers Second Rain Garden Class at Clark Garden
Clark Garden’s new rain garden will serve as wonderful teaching tool
North Hempstead, NY – Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board are pleased to announce that the Town will once again offer its popular How to Plant a Rain Garden class on Saturday, September 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson. How to Plant a Rain Garden is the second class of its kind and the latest addition to the Town's environmental education series for residents. The class is free but attendees are encouraged to register in advance.
The Town recently joined with NEFCU and Sustainable Long Island to plant a specially-designed rain garden at Clark Botanic Garden.
“Our new rain garden at Clark Botanic Garden will serve a wonderful teaching tool for everyone taking this class,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “Creating a rain garden will help reduce the pollutants that flow into our storm water system.”
Rain gardens are specialty gardens that are positioned near a water run-off source, like a downspout, driveway or sump pump to capture rainwater, keeping the fresh rainwater out of the sewer system and in the ground. By re-routing run-off, the rain garden helps to reduce pollution by filtering out contaminants as the water slowly seeps into the ground. The plantings used in a rain garden typically have very long roots, to allow them to withstand moisture extremes.
Other environmental classes at Clark Botanic Garden include the Town’s Composting Cooperative and Recycle the Rain classes. Residents can purchase reduced-cost rain barrels or composters for a discounted cost of $50, after taking a 30 minute rain barrel or composting class.
The 12-acre living educational museum, Clark Botanic Garden, frequently plays host to numerous events and activities hosted by the Town of North Hempstead including summer concerts, film screenings, activities for school children, and much more. It is open to the public year round.
To register, or if you have any questions about the rain garden class, please call 311 or (516) 869-6311 for more information.
A newly installed rain garden at Clark Botanic Garden.