URBANA, Ill. — It can be frustrating when a spring storm washes away new plants or when a summer drought leaves a garden wilting. Whether it’s too much or too little, University of Illinois Extension provides resources and examples for how to manage rainfall and what homeowners and communities can do.

The Illinois Extension Red Oak Rain Garden was recently awarded a grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation expanding the demonstration garden’s ability to serve as an educational tool. “The rain garden is located on a busy pedestrian pathway on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus and provides a great opportunity to educate visitors and inspire them to create their own rain gardens,” said Eliana Brown, Illinois Extension water quality and stormwater specialist. “We’re grateful for this support, which will allow us to communicate the benefits of ecological gardening.”

Illinois Extension provides a variety of research-based rainfall management educational programs to help people navigate a changing climate with wetter springs and drier summers. The Red Oak Rain Garden green infrastructure project demonstrates best practices to help empower the public to implement nature-based solutions in their landscape. The grant will allow for the creation and installation of interpretive signage and to add plants to the garden. 

The 2024 Water and Environment grant is part of the foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing program. American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S. and aims to support high-impact projects and initiatives.

“The American Water Charitable Foundation is committed to participating and investing in organizations and programs that benefit the diverse communities served by American Water,” said American Water Charitable Foundation President Carrie Williams. “We take pride and are proud to further American Water’s ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor and strong partner in the community.”

American Water provides drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. The American Water Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit organization established by American Water. A full list of 2024 Water and Environment grant recipients is available on their website. 

INTERVIEWS: Contact Dolan Klein at dolank@illinois.edu or 217-333-7958 to request specialist interviews on this topic.