PNBC Rain Garden -
Bioretention
The Anacostia Waterfront Trust worked with Washington DC’s Department of Energy & Environment to capture and infiltrate stormwater from the Progressive National Baptist Convention building and adjacent parking lot as part of their new RainPay program. They worked with a DC-based designer, Greening Urban to design an approximately 1,000 square feet bioretention facility for their building.
EQR was contracted for construction and we removed 128 cubic yards of existing soil and replaced it with a specified bioretention mix; 80% sand, with small amounts of clay, soil fines and organic matter such as compost. EQR then installed a drain box in the parking lot with a pipe directing stormwater into the bioretention facility, as well as directing a downspout flow from a nearby building into the area. To form and function naturally, the bioretention area will infiltrate rainfall and recharge groundwater versus it just running off. This will create an aesthetically appealing garden for the members of this congregation. The facility was planted with approximately 200 native trees, shrubs and grasses, chosen for their ability to handle saturated roots after rain events. EQR has been contracted to maintain the garden for the next two years to ensure that the facility is running properly.