Christ the King Church Rain Garden
City
New Brighton, Minnesota
Completion Date
2025
Cost
$19,000
Phase
In Progress
Benefitted Water Body
Long Lake
Funding Sources
Christ the King Church- New Brighton, Ramsey County Soil & Water Conservation Division, RCWD
Partners
Christ the King Church- New Brighton, Ramsey County Soil & Water Conservation Division
This project will be planted in fall of 2025 with the church members and surrounding community. Details coming soon!
This project will improve stormwater management at Christ the King Church in New Brighton through the installation of two curb-cut raingardens in the church parking lot. Currently, stormwater runoff from the church’s large parking lot and roof flows untreated into the storm sewer system, contributing to water quality issues in Long Lake. The new raingardens will capture and treat runoff before it enters the storm drain system, significantly reducing the volume of water and pollutants entering the lake.
The project will treat approximately 26,074 square feet of drainage area and is estimated to reduce annual runoff by over 20,000 cubic feet, total suspended solids (dirt in water) by 69 pounds, and total phosphorus by 0.38 pounds. The church community is actively engaged in the effort, contributing labor and native plants to the installation, and the project will also support pollinator habitat through native plantings.
This rain garden isn’t being planted by a contractor, it’s being planted by the community. RCWD and Growing Green Hearts are coordinating a major community planting event where church members, local students from nearby schools, and neighbors will help install hundreds of native plants. These plants will help slow down and soak up stormwater, provide habitat for pollinators, and beautify the church grounds.
Earlier this year, Growing Green Hearts led educational workshops with the church to teach participants about native plants and water stewardship. Church members started growing native plants from seed, learning firsthand how these plants support healthy soil, pollinators, and clean water. These plants will now find a home in the new rain garden and other areas across the campus.
An educational sign, designed by RCWD, will be installed near the sidewalk and parking lot to share the story of this project with people walking by.
Design and technical support were provided by the Ramsey County Soil & Water Conservation Division, and the project will also serve as a valuable education and outreach opportunity for nearby schools, including Highview Middle School and Bel Air Elementary.
RCWD awarded $10,000 through its Water Quality Grant program to support this work, Ramey County awarded a grant, and the church contributed the remaining costs and in-kind labor and materials.
To Learn More About This Project:
