News
December 18, 2008
Fred Fletcher Park Water Garden Opens
The City of Raleigh has completed constructing a water garden and wetland feature at Fred Fletcher Park, and the area is now open to the public. The water garden is located next to the “Redbird” sculpture, behind the basketball and tennis courts near the park’s entrance on Washington Street off of Glenwood Avenue.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is planning a dedication ceremony for the water garden in June.
The water garden offers several new benefits to park patrons and to the City, including:
- An aesthetically pleasing garden after the first growing season is complete and the planted vegetation begins to mature. The garden will have a variety of evergreen and perennial plant species;
- A new home for dragonflies, butterflies, ducks and other animals;
- Naturally filtered stormwater that flows into the water garden to clean the runoff before flowing downstream into Pigeon House Branch; and,
- An educational opportunity for neighboring schools and park patrons on the water garden and the functions of the new habitat. In the spring, the City will install educational signs at a few locations surrounding the water garden.
In addition to the new water garden, the City has completed the installation of a new pedestrian entrance for Fred Fletcher Park from Boylan Avenue. A new underground drainage system has also been installed in this area to resolve continuing erosion problems. The City Parks and Recreation Department plans to plant a native grass mix that does not require mowing along the hillside at the new pedestrian entrance. The department intends to lead a neighborhood planting event to further beautify this area of the park.
Several years ago, the water garden and wetland feature was incorporated into the master plan for Fred Fletcher Park. With construction beginning last March, completion was scheduled for this past summer but unforeseen matters delayed the opening. After construction of the water garden and wetland was complete, the area remained closed to the public for several weeks as the overlook deck was completed and the site was prepared for the public. The City recently opened the water garden to park patrons who can enjoy the view of wetland areas. The City is looking forward to the spring and summer months when the vegetation will begin to grow and mature in the warmer weather.
With construction of the water garden complete, the City’s Stormwater Management Division of the City has begun monitoring the water garden to determine how effectively it improves water quality. During periods of rain, City staff will collect stormwater runoff samples flowing into the water garden and compare those with samples of the water draining out of the water garden. The City plans to monitor the water garden for at least two years.
Prepared by:
John Boyette
Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Amy Hathaway
Water Quality Engineer
Public Works Department
222 West Hargett Street (RM 301)
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3940
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