“Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day!” But what if it doesn’t? Gilbert Primary School is taking responsibility for the effects of too much rain by installing their first rain garden, tentatively scheduled to begin in November, 2013 on the front lawn of the school. To kick off this stormwater management project, Senator Katrina Shealy, Senator Shane Massey and Representative Ralph Kennedy were welcomed by a dozen green-clad student leaders and school administrators to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, September 27, at the school in conjunction with the South Carolina Green Apple Day of Service.
The festivities began mid morning with guests from Lexington County: County Engineer, Randy Edwards, Environmental Coordinator, Synithia Williams, and Landscaping Administrator, Robbie Derrick. Also present was Conservation Voters of SC representative, Rebecca Haynes. After Senator Shealy praised the school for taking steps to control stormwater pollution, Mr. Edwards, Ms Williams and Mr. Derrick were given the “floor” (grassy spot under a tree”) on the site of the planned rain garden to provide information on the purpose and plan for the rain garden.
They emphasized that in Lexington County, 40% of the waterways are impaired due to stormwater runoff that contains such things as automotive fluids, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, sediment, bacteria from animal waste, detergents, soap residue and trash. A rain garden is a low-impact development technique designed to mimic the way water infiltrated the land prior to modern land development. Installation of hardy native plants in beautiful arrangements within the garden enhances the landscape while absorbing and treating excess stormwater runoff to reduce pollution and minor flooding. The design of the rain garden will be both aesthetically pleasing and engineered to properly collect stormwater.
Then came the exciting part…the groundbreaking with the first clump of earth being removed by Senator Shealy followed by student leaders with trowels in hand working with the encouragement of their Principal Melissa Apperson and Lexington District I School Superintendant, Karen Woodward. Their effort was rewarded with a reception where punch and cookies were enjoyed by all. Students presented Senator Shealy with an engraved shovel to commemorate the event.
