The Prairie Village Sustainable Landscape Solutions Reimbursement Program offers a unique opportunity for residents to create beautiful and environmentally friendly rain gardens in their yards. These gardens use native plants to help filter and manage stormwater runoff, reducing the strain on local waterways and improving water quality, while also attracting and nurturing invaluable pollinators.

Thanks to funding from the Johnson County Contain the Rain program, and promotional support from environmental nonprofit Bridging the Gap of Kansas City, Prairie Village offers up to a 50% rebate of the expenses associated with creating a rain garden. This includes costs for design, installation, and maintenance of the garden, making it an affordable and accessible option for residents who want to make a positive impact on their community and the environment while enhancing the beauty of their property. The program also covers rain barrel installation.

Creating a rain garden with native plants is a relatively straightforward process.  The location for the garden is selected based on areas where rainwater naturally accumulates. A garden is then designed to hold and filter rainwater by creating a slight depression in the ground and adding soil and mulch to the area. In most cases, this can be done by homeowners with hand tools. Plants are then specifically selected for their ability to thrive in the local climate and soil conditions, making them low-maintenance and well-suited to the area, as well as for their natural ability to attract native wildlife to the garden, such as butterflies, other pollinators, and birds.  For three years, Prairie Village has committed to the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge and many plants that would be covered by this program, such as milkweed, would also help meet the city’s Monarch protection-related goals.  

Designed to require minimal maintenance, once the garden is established, it should need only occasional watering and weeding. Homeowners will want to inspect the garden annually to ensure that it continues to effectively contribute to minimizing stormwater runoff.

The Sustainable Landscape Solutions Reimbursement Program is an excellent opportunity for residents to create beautiful and environmentally friendly native plant/rain gardens in their yards. Not only does it provide an affordable and accessible option for creating these gardens, but it also helps to improve water quality and reduce the strain on local waterways.

Residents who would like to learn more about the program can visit pvkansas.com/raingardens.

Change your eNotification preference. <– SIGN UP HERE TO GET THESE NOTIFICATIONS DIRECTLY TO YOU. 😁