Montgomery County Executive Elrich to Join DEP and One Montgomery Green on Saturday, Sept. 11, for 10-Year Anniversary of Community Rain Garden in Wheaton

Montgomery County Executive Elrich to Join DEP and One Montgomery Green on Saturday, Sept. 11, for 10-Year Anniversary of Community Rain Garden in Wheaton

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 10, 2021

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will join other elected officials, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Director Adam Ortiz, One Montgomery Green (OMG) and community members at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, in Downtown Wheaton to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of a RainScapes Conservation Landscape. The event will feature a community clean up and ribbon cutting at the site’s new location at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Veteran’s Memorial Park is located on the corner of Reedie Drive and Amherst Avenue. The community garden is part of DEP’s “RainScapes” program.

In keeping with the tradition of the Sept. 11 “National Day of Service and Remembrance,” the event will kick off with the community clean up.  Participants will use “plogging” kits with gloves, tools and trash bags to safely pick up trash in parks, on sidewalks, curbs and other public areas.

The ceremonies will be led by County Executive Erich, DEP Director Ortiz, Maryland State Delegate Al Carr and representatives from the One Montgomery Green environmental organization.

“Thanks to the ongoing commitment by the DEP RainScapes program and OMG, we are celebrating 10 years of environmentally friendly landscaping and environmental action in the heart of downtown Wheaton,” said County Executive Elrich. “I applaud DEP, OMG and all of the partners who continue to support projects like this one that tackle the environmental challenges and educate residents at the same time. Projects like this one are a win-win.”

The rain garden was installed in 2011 as a collaborative effort by DEP’s RainScapes program and OMG (formerly Green Wheaton), the County Department of Transportation and the Wheaton Urban District to create a demonstration rain garden that was publicly accessible and was a visible conservation project. Ten years later, that garden has a new look and a new location.

“This 10-year-old rain garden is a testament to the power of partnership and the perseverance of Mother Nature when we respect and work with her,” said DEP Director Ortiz. “Our partnership with OMG led to the creation of this beautiful garden providing inspiration and environmental benefits in the heart of the Wheaton Urban District. Ten years later, this garden continues to provide beauty and water management to the area and is a visible and accessible example of what individuals can do in their own home landscapes.”

The original garden was located at the corner of Reedie Drive and Grandview Avenue in Wheaton. It was moved to its current location at the Veteran’s Memorial Park at Reedie Dive and Amherst Avenue in 2016 when construction began on the 14-story office building that is the focal point of the Wheaton Revitalization Project.

“I’m so pleased that all of the County can see the beauty of Wheaton as evidenced through this garden,” said OMG Executive Director Wendy Howard. “The garden gives residents a chance to enjoy the local plants from our region. It has been a joy to be a part of, and it really is a garden of love.”