Newtown Township Rain Gardens Win 2024 Garden Contest

Press release from the Township of Newtown:

Newtown Township’s two rain gardens won first place awards in the 2024 Garden Contest of the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County. The award was presented on September 28 at Penn State Extension’s "Fall Fest" in Smedley Park, Springfield, Delaware County.

The rain gardens are located at the Township Building (209 Bishop Hollow Rd., Newtown Square) and at the Newtown Edgmont Little League field (323 Bishop Hollow Rd., Newtown Square). In 2019, the Township received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Program. The grant, with a Township match, funded the design and installation of the two gardens.

Within Newtown Township, several resident gardens received awards from the Master Gardeners: Matthew Braunbeck, a Newtown Township resident, received a first place award and resident gardens by Alexandra Scipione and Trish Adams both placed second.

Rain gardens play an important part in capturing rainwater and reducing stormwater runoff. They provide natural drainage that allows water to soak back into the ground, as opposed to flowing into storm drains. The Township’s goal is to reduce surface water runoff which causes erosion, water pollution, flooding and diminished groundwater. The rain gardens beautifully support the Township’s “blue infrastructure” for the benefit of our water quality, our environment, our residents and our neighboring communities downstream.

As the rain gardens were planned and planted, special attention was paid to the types of plants that were used in the design. In support of the Township’s goal of using at least 80% native plants in all new Township plantings, the rain gardens contain ONLY native plants. The use of native plants also provides a safer habitat and food source for birds, pollinators and people. As a designated Birdtown, the Township kept our feathered friends in mind throughout the planning process.

Thank you to Newtown Township's Board of Supervisors, the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), Public Works, Newtown Edgemont Little League (NELL) and all the incredible volunteers and community groups that have helped over the years to make our rain gardens a great success!

For more information about Newtown Township's Rain Gardens or to get ideas on how to use native plants in your landscape, visit either or both of the Township rain garden or Township website.

This press release was produced by the Township of Newtown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.