2009-2010 annual report - Heartland Community College
2009-2010 annual report - Heartland Community College
2009-2010 annual report - Heartland Community College
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“The goal is to retain as much rain water on site as possible, keeping it from<br />
running into the sewer system or nearby streams,” Fluegel said. “This helps<br />
keep our streams and rivers cleaner, and even helps reduce future flooding.”<br />
Members of the <strong>Heartland</strong> Gardens Stewards group<br />
volunteered to help plant the hundreds of native<br />
plants and grasses used in the rain garden project.<br />
PARTNERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEERS NURTURE “HEARTLAND GARDENS”<br />
In spring <strong>2010</strong>, Trees Forever and the Illinois Buffer Partnership selected <strong>Heartland</strong> Gardens as a program partner,<br />
awarding <strong>Heartland</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> a $3,000 grant to maintain the green site in the northwest corner of campus.<br />
The <strong>Heartland</strong> Gardens project is a two-acre demonstration site that showcases environmentally friendly and<br />
sustainable landscaping options. The rain garden installation will capture and filter rain water runoff from a nearby<br />
parking lot and other campus areas.<br />
Trees Forever—the granting body—is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 that connects people to the<br />
environment through the planting and care of trees, prairie, and other natural areas. Trees Forever field coordinator<br />
Debbie Fluegel emphasizes the importance and impact of the <strong>College</strong>’s rain garden installation project.<br />
“The goal is to retain as much rain water on site as possible, keeping it from running into the sewer system or nearby<br />
streams,” Fluegel said. “This helps keep our streams and rivers cleaner, and even helps reduce future flooding.”<br />
Members of the <strong>Heartland</strong> Gardens Stewards group volunteered to help plant the hundreds of native plants and<br />
grasses used in the rain garden project. This group of faculty and staff volunteers also plans to help maintain the<br />
<strong>Heartland</strong> Gardens site. Trees Forever staff assisted with the project as part of a special program funded by the<br />
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. The goals of that program are to demonstrate techniques to improve water quality<br />
in the Upper Mississippi River Basin and to enhance wildlife habitat in the area.<br />
www.heartland.edu | 17<br />
HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE | get the edge.
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