Rain Garden at the Caldwell Community Center

In 2019, the Caldwell Environmental Commission applied for and received a $20,000 Sustainability Grant from Sustainable Jersey to address the flooding issues in the town.   The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program (WRP) under the direction of Dr. Chris Obrupta identified and designed a green storm water infrastructure demonstration project at the Caldwell Community Center.  They worked with the Caldwell Departments of Public Work (DPW) to install the project designed by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program provided oversight and assistance during construction. The project is a bioretention system, or rain garden. Rain gardens are landscaped, shallow depressions designed to manage storm water runoff. Rain gardens are designed to pond six inches of water in a rain event and infiltrate that water into the ground over a period of 24-48 hours. The rain garden is planted with species tolerant of inundation, drought, and that are native to the region. Native plants have the added benefit of supporting pollinator species and other species habitat.  It is located at the rear of the Caldwell Community Center adjacent to Kiwanis Oval.