A pilot project combining the brain power and political will of the Detroit’s water department, Land Bank Authority, and the University of Michigan recently completed the first of four vacant lots into beautiful and functional bioretention gardens.
"Detroit’s water department and Land Bank Authority as well as the University of Michigan turned four vacant city lots into gardens designed to corral stormwater," according to an article by Charles E. Ramirez and Christine Ferretti.
Participants in the pilot project gathered in May to celebrate the opening of the one of the new lots, located on Evergreen, between Joy and Tireman in the Cody Rougeneighborhood on the west side of Detroit.
The bioretention gardens "capture and soak up storm runoff as well as beautify the area," according to the article. One local resident noted that the new garden is a vast improvement over the vacant home that stood on the lot before. Water officials expect each garden to reduce local runoff to stormwater sewers by 300,00 gallons.
More information on the pilot project, as well as the participation of the University of Michigan's School of Natural resources and Environment can be found in the video below.
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