Hackensack Community Rain Garden

Hackensack Community Rain Garden

A rain garden is a special type of garden designed to help reduce flooding and filter storm water before it goes into a waterway or an aquifer.  A rain garden can absorb up to 30% more water than a lawn (and much, much more than most forms of concrete or asphalt); can help attract birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects; and can add more natural beauty and variety to a landscape.

It can be placed almost anywhere there is space available to have plants, and can be built by anyone.

Figure 1 Rain garden by Dave Chalek, who is designing the Hackensack Community Rain Garden
Figure 1 Rain garden by Dave Chalek, who is designing the Hackensack Community Rain Garden

Through the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program, the Hackensack Environmental Justice Alliance will install a demonstration rain garden at Hackensack High School on June 1, 2024. The Hackensack Community Rain Garden is designed for three purposes:

  • Inspire the creation of rain gardens throughout Hackensack and the region
  • Support the environmental education of Hackensack High School students
  • Create a new community asset for neighbors to enjoy.

The rain garden will be placed on the First Street side of Hackensack High School.  The installation will be from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Around the same time, from 11 am to 3 pm, will be the Boost the Block Goes Green community and environmental festival.  Come join us!

Would you like to volunteer to help install the rain garden, or other activities around the garden?  Sign up here ›

We also plan to install public art around the garden to bring attention and raise knowledge about environmental issues facing communities in Hackensack and around North Jersey.

Help support the rain garden, and public art around the rain garden.  Please make a donation today to the Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice program.

The rain garden is produced by the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation and Hackensack Public Schools.  It is made possible with support from a variety of supporters:

  • The Funders Network
  • TD Bank Charitable Foundation
  • M&T Bank Charitable Foundation
  • Columbia Bank Foundation
  • Suburban Consulting Engineers
  • The Jefferson/ Garden Communities
  • PSE&G Foundation

Return to Green Infrastructure for Environmental Justice page.

Figure 2The Rain Garden will be placed on the First Street side of Hackensack High School
Figure 2The Rain Garden will be placed on the First Street side of Hackensack High School