URA funds big rain garden

Digging has begun to establish a large rain garden at the EECO [Environment and Energy Community Outreach] Center in Larimer.

The Department of Public Works is on task building the 50-by-100 foot garden as a demonstration of effective stormwater collection. The EECO Center is on the lot of a former gas station at East Liberty Boulevard, Larimer Avenue and Auburn Street.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority granted $100,000, $75,000 of which is for materials and equipment.  

Pavement around the garden will be permeable.

The project’s name is a mouthful: The EECO Stormwater Low Impact Development Demonstration Garden. It’s there to capture water so ALCOSAN doesn’t have to, water that won’t flood roadways, water that we won’t have pay ALCOSAN to collect and treat.

Robert Rubinstein, acting director of the URA, said the land is owned by the URA, which secured a Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant from the county for the project.   

“It will not only capture water but it will be educational,” he said. Signage and educational information will be available for the public when the rain garden is completed.

EECO Center is being managed by Pittsburgh Community Services.

photo by Shad Henderson