Rain gardens reduce flooding by managing excess rainwater.  They take some of the rain that normally would flow into the sewer system or the street and collect it in a shallow, unseen trough underneath the plants.  The plants then use this water to grow, and any water left over slowly sinks into the ground.

Compared to a conventional patch of lawn, a rain garden allows 30% more water to soak into the ground.  Even though it is called a “rain garden,” water does not pond or stand on the surface of this landscape feature.

The Westmoreland Conservation District has created rain gardens in various locations in the county.   One of the largest captures rainwater from a 750-square-foot section of roof on the GreenForge office building on Donohoe Road in Greensburg.  It is shown in the picture on the home page.

The Mount Pleasant rain gardens will be smaller than the rain garden at GreenForge -- roughly 10 feet by 20 feet.  Like the rain garden in the picture,  they will be attractive landscape features planted with perennial flowers, shrubs, and/or small trees.   And although they will add beauty to the neighborhoods, the real purpose of the rain gardens is reduce flooding, a problem that has historically plagued the Ramsay Terrace neighborhood and, in particular, North and South Geary streets.

Although the Mount Pleasant rain garden program targets residents of Ramsay Terrace and surrounding neighborhoods, any borough resident interested in learning more about rain gardens and other ways to reduce rainwater runoff is invited to attend the free informational meeting on Thursday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Post 3368, 416 West Main Street, Mount Pleasant.  Borough officials and Westmoreland Conservation District staff members will be on-hand to explain more about the rain garden program and homeowners will have the opportunity to indicate their interest in participating.

The borough also plans to mail information about the rain garden project and the informational meeting to homeowners in Ramsay Terrace and surrounding neighborhoods in the next few weeks.

Funding for the rain gardens is being provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  The Richard King Mellon Foundation is providing funding for the public information meetings.