PR - Akron Waterways Renewed! Launches Rain Garden Giveaway

City of Akron Press Release
Published: 10-08-2021

Akron Waterways Renewed! Launches Rain Garden Giveaway

Akron, Ohio, October 6, 2021 — On Saturday October 23, 2021, Akron Waterways Renewed! will be hosting a rain garden giveaway for the citizens of Akron in participation of Stormwater Awareness Week, October 17-23, 2021. The drive-up event will take place on the last day of Stormwater Awareness Week from 12:00pm to 2:00pm in the parking lot at Patterson Park at 800 Patterson Ave. Akron, OH 44310.

The free rain garden kit includes a watering can, a pack of native seeds with information about the included varieties, a hand shovel, gloves, instructions on how to set up your rain garden, and seed starter trays. Akron residents will also have the opportunity to meet Eco, AWR!’s mascot. Residents should register for their free kit here. There will be a limited number of kits available.

The giveaway is a collaboration with local organizations, including Keep Akron Beautiful and Summit Soil & Water Conservation, in an effort to educate the public about the slow and soak method of reducing rainwater, absorbing and filtering the amount of water that reaches the sewer system, and ultimately, the Cuyahoga and Little Cuyahoga rivers. Stormwater can be great for lawns and gardens; however, it can wreak havoc on rivers and streams.

“Runoff, including stormwater, contributes over 99% of the bacteria load to the Cuyahoga River, while the Akron Combined Sewer Overflow contributes less than 1% of the load,” according to Patrick Gsellman, Akron Waterways Renewed! Program Manager.

Akron Waterways Renewed! is encouraging all Akron area residents to participate in Stormwater Awareness Week by picking up a rain garden kit at the giveaway, in addition to:

• Planting native flowers and shrubs with deep root systems to soak up rainwater and provide food for bee and butterfly populations
• Picking up litter in your neighborhood or at your local park
• Checking the weather report before applying fertilizer to your lawn or any oil or chemicals to driveways and sidewalks
• Installing a rain barrel to store rainwater for later use
• Taking care to never flush anything hazardous, such as grease, pet waste, chemicals, medications, or personal hygiene products
• Encourage and educate friends and family to participate

"Stormwater Awareness Week offers the perfect opportunity for Akron residents to learn more about how harmful stormwater can be for our rivers, and help mitigate some of that impact by taking part in this free rain garden kit giveaway," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "I encourage residents to get involved and help improve the quality of our waterways."

For more information regarding Stormwater Awareness Week, please visit: https://myfcph.org/stormwaterawareness/ and follow Akron Waterways Renewed! at  https://www.facebook.com/akronwaterwaysrenewed for the latest.

For more information on the program, please contact Kelli Stewart of Akron Waterways Renewed! at 330-375-2265.

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For further information, contact:
City of Akron Press Office
Phone: 330-375-2754
E-mail: [email protected]