Volunteers to Construct New Rain Garden Saturday, June 8

Local volunteers will build the City’s newest public rain garden from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 8 at 200 E. Washington Blvd., in Northwest Pasadena. The all-day event will feature a hands-on “Rain Garden Workshop” where volunteers will learn how to create a beautiful, drought-resistant oasis in their own backyards while prepping and landscaping the new garden space.

Volunteers interested in helping must pre-register. For questions or to register, please contact Nancy Long at nlong@cityofpasadena.net, or (626) 744-3865.

“This rain garden will beautify the space for years to come, while demonstrating how rainwater can be better utilized for irrigation,” Pasadena Water and Power Department’s Customer Relations Manager Wendy De Leon said. “This is a win-win project for the City and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of our local volunteers.”

Once the rain garden is complete, the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission and the Cultural Affairs Division, www.cityofpasadena.net/arts, will install public artwork at the site as part of the City’s Rotating Public Art Exhibition Program. The new artwork will replace a hummingbird sculpture that was damaged by vandalism shortly after being installed in 2011.

This project is a collaboration between Pasadena Beautiful, which has graciously donated the plants for the project, and several City departments, including Planning and Community Development, Water and Power and Public Works. Outward Bound Adventures, the Northwest Commission’s Ambassador Youth Program, and the Garfield Heights Neighborhood Association also will be participating in the event.

This the second rain garden created in conjunction with the City of Pasadena’s Rotating Public Art Exhibition Program. The first was completed in April 2012 at 103 N. Catalina Ave., at the southwest corner of Union Street and Catalina Avenue.

For information about the City’s Rotating Art Exhibition Program, visit the Cultural Affairs webpage. For information about the City’s water conservation initiatives and gardening workshops, visit www.PWPweb.com/SavesWater.

For more information about the City of Pasadena visit www.cityofpasadena.net.