Growing a Greener Morningside: Rain Garden Demonstration Project

Emerald Gardens Morningside is preparing to welcome a new demonstration rain garden at 4716 Haverhill Street. The project is funded by the National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds program, which recognizes congregations, houses of worship, and faith communities who both create wildlife habitat and actively link faith practices and caring for the environment. We are blessed to be recognized by the NWF even though we are not technically a faith-based organization. We do, however, have faith. The garden will give neighbors and participants a hands-on way to learn how thoughtful landscape can manage stormwater while adding beauty and habitat to the community. The project will also serve as the cap

Watch for project updates and opportunities to learn more. The completed garden will serve as a living demonstration of how neighbors can use plants, soil, and smart design to manage rainwater and strengthen the MorningSide community.stone project for the Wayne County Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The CSP cohort will work with the National Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Rouge, the Sierra Club, and neighborhood residents. This collaborative approach will connect practical stormwater education with improvements residents can see and learn from in their own community.

Why a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is a shallow planted area that captures water from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces so it can soak into the ground. By slowing runoff, rain gardens can help filter pollutants, improve local water quality, support birds and pollinators, and create an attractive neighborhood landscape.

Learning by Doing
The project combines community education with site planning, design, installation, and long-term care. Participants will learn about the benefits of rain gardens and help document the work with before, in-progress, and after photos. The team also plans to share a project storyboard during its capstone presentation.

What Comes Next
Site preparation will take place before planting day, scheduled for October 16, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. After installation, the team plans seasonal maintenance and an annual rain garden cleanup and demonstration beginning in spring 2027.

Watch for project updates and opportunities to learn more. The completed garden will serve as a living demonstration of how neighbors can use plants, soil, and smart design to manage rainwater and strengthen the MorningSide community.