Building Rain Gardens
Through the Students for Stormwater project, we’re designing, building and maintaining six school rain gardens in the Credit River Watershed. With the help from students and their teachers, we’re designing unique gardens at the following schools:
- Belfountain Public School
- Credit Valley Public School
- Janet I. McDougald Public School
- Mineola Public School
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Whitehorn Public School
The Benefits of Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are a type of low impact development and help us adapt to climate change. We’re seeing more rain and heavy rainfall. These gardens will slow down, soak up and filter rainwater coming from nearby rooftops, driveways and parking lots before flowing into the stormwater system. As the water flows into the garden, the plants and layers of soil clean the water as it soaks into the ground. Rain gardens help to keep our streams, rivers and lakes clean while reducing localized flooding. They reduce pressure on municipal stormwater systems, improve schoolgrounds and build climate change resilience in our communities.
Once the rain gardens are complete, they will provide a great learning tool and outdoor classroom for teachers and students.
Building the Rain Gardens
In the last 10 years, we’ve installed five school rain gardens. We’re building off that success and completing six rain gardens within a short three-year window, reducing the overall cost per project and getting more rain gardens in the ground faster..
The project will span over three years from 2020 to 2023.
The first step to building a rain garden is to complete a site investigation. CVC staff visit the schools and walk the properties to find the best location for the rain garden. A team of experts at CVC work together to understand the existing drainage systems by conducting detailed drainage mapping and modelling. With this information, we determine the size of rain gardens based on the soil and site conditions. This ensures the gardens are both beautiful and functional for stormwater quantity and quality control.
Students at each school are involved in the design process virtually. Students watch a video about rain gardens and learn how they can help to design the rain gardens. After watching the video, students cast their vote to pick which plants and other features they would like in the rain garden at their school.
Construction began at the first three schools in fall 2021. A contractor removed sod and completed minor excavation according to the designs. Construction of the final three rain gardens is starting 2022.
Students, teachers and volunteers have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and help plant the rain gardens. The rain gardens are planted with native plants to improve the biodiversity at each school.
Once the rain gardens are complete, students will care for the rain gardens completing tasks like weeding and watering. The rain gardens also provide a safe space for outdoor and hands-on learning.
Belfountain P.S.
“Before” picture of the rain garden at Belfountain Public School Step one of rain garden construction was to remove the sod. Pathways and other features were marked out using flags and paint. Swales were dug and the site was graded to direct the flow of water to the rain garden. Compost was spread in the planting bed areas of the garden. The rain garden was designed to have a tiny forest. The tiny forest area was graded using a pit and mound grading. Log flumes were added at the downspouts to direct the stormwater collected on the roof into the rain garden. The swales were lined with landscape fabric and filled with river stone. The pathways were mulched, and log rounds were added. Planting day begins. CVC staff placed the plants and planted larger trees and shrubs. Students from Belfountain P.S. learned about the importance of rain gardens and helped plant native perennials and shrubs. Planting complete at the north swale. Planted tiny forest. Planting complete at the south swale. Completed rain garden.
Mineola P.S.
“Before” picture of the rain garden at Mineola Public School. Step one of rain garden construction was to mark out the rain garden footprint and remove the sod. Swales were dug, and the site was graded to direct the flow of water to the rain garden. Compost was spread in the planting bed areas of the garden. A red oak was planted and surrounded by log seating for the students. Pathways were mulched. Log stump seating was added around the outside of the rain garden and in front of the future outdoor chalkboard. Planting day begins. CVC staff placed the plants around the rain garden. Mineola P.S. students learned about the importance of rain gardens and helped plant the rain garden. Mineola P.S. students helped mulch the rain garden. CVC staff and Into The Woods constructed the willow house. Completed willow house. Completed willow tunnel. Completed rain garden. Stormwater collected in the rain garden after a rainfall event.
Janet I. McDougald P.S.
“Before” picture of the rain garden at Janet I. McDougald P.S. Step one of rain garden construction was to mark out the rain garden footprint and remove the sod. The swale was dug, and the site was graded to direct the flow of water to the rain garden. The swale was lined with landscape fabric. River stone was added on top of the landscape fabric and along the length of the swale. Log benches were added at the edge of the rain garden. Compost was spread in the planting bed areas of the garden. CVC staff placed the plants according to the planting plan. CVC and Toronto Zoo staff planted the rain garden. Mulch was added to the rain garden. Completed rain garden from west side. Completed rain garden from the east side. Two bird boxes were installed at both ends of the rain garden. New sitting area at the entrance of the rain garden. Stormwater collected in the rain garden after a rainfall event.
Project Partners
This projet was undertaken with the financial support from the Government of Canada’s Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change through the EcoAction Community Funding Program.

