ACAP Cape Breton to build rain gardens throughout Sydney

Sydney will get a facelift this summer as ACAP Cape Breton plants 15 rain gardens throughout the city. Rain gardens are beautiful pockets of strategically arranged plants and bedding that are designed to slow and absorb storm water – surface runoff from roofs, driveways, streets, and sidewalks. Rain gardens are one of the most effective ways to manage stormwater. Twelve of the gardens will be on residential properties, and three will be built in public areas.

This project will be undertaken with the support of the RBC Blue Water Project. The RBC Blue Water Project is a wide-ranging program dedicated to protecting the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. Since the project began in 2007, RBC has pledged over $36 million to more than 500 charitable organizations worldwide that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water.

“Rain gardens are an excellent, low-impact method of improving water treatment in our city,” remarks Jared Tomie, Environmental Project Manager at ACAP Cape Breton and head of the rain garden project. “We are very excited to be able to bring storm water treatment right to people’s doorsteps.”

ACAP Cape Breton and RBC will be commemorating the launch of the project with a cheque presentation at the RBC Sydney Branch on Charlotte Street on Blue Water Day, June 13th. To learn more about the project, and to find out how you can get a rain garden at your urban home, phone ACAP at 567-1628 or email jtomie@acapcb.ns.ca.

ACAP Cape Breton is a non-profit, charitable community organization. Located at 582 George Street in Sydney, ACAP Cape Breton has a community vision: “Local people are actively engaged; working and learning together to build a healthy and sustainable Island.”